Proxy consultations for severe mental illnesses: An exploratory cross-sectional study from a tertiary care hospital.

Proxy consultations are relatively common, driven by many social, economic, patient-related, pragmatic and practical factors. In formulating community care policies for persons with SMI, the primary imperative should be to conduct additional research, deepening our understanding of proxy consultations. Additionally, it is essential to be mindful of the diverse issues associated with proxy consultations during the formulation process.