Impact of Socio-Economic Status in Meeting the Needs of People with Mental Illness; Human Rights Perspective

The present descriptive study investigated the impact of socio-economic status in meeting the human rights needs among randomly selected recovered psychiatric patients (n = 100) at a tertiary care center. Data was collected through face to face interview, using structured Needs Assessment Questionnaire. The findings revealed that the participants from below poverty line were deprived of physical needs such as ‘electricity facilities’ (χ2 = 6.821, p < .009) ‘safe drinking water’ (χ2 = 13.506, p < .004) and purchasing medications (χ2 = 9.958, p < .019). Conversely, participants from above poverty line were dissatisfied in emotional needs dimension i.e. ‘commenting on physical appearance (χ2 = 8.337, p < .040), afraid of family members (χ2 = 17.809, p < .000). Thus, there is an urgent need to implement mental illness awareness campaigns and government should take active steps for providing employment, disability pension, free housing, free treatment and free transportation service for people with mental illness to attend hospital or rehabilitation centres.