National Human Rights Commission Acting Chairperson Justice Cyriac Joseph has said the government should recognize the role of NGOs in mental health care in the country. Inaugurating a meeting of State Health Secretaries on mental health care in New Delhi today, Justice Joseph said the NGOs can play a big role in addressing this concern and discouraging them will not help the cause.<br/><br/>He said the rehabilitation of mentally-ill patients remains a key area of concern in the area of mental healthcare. Justice Joseph added that private institutions are also playing an equally important role and the governments should support their efforts by removing impediments.<br/><br/>On having new law on mental health care, Justice Joseph said the real problem does not lie in the absence of laws but in failure to implement the existing ones. He said the mental health is an important human rights and the NHRC is deeply committed to protect it.