‘Kin shun 25 percent mental illness patients even after treatment’

Besides treatment, the persons with mental disorders who are brought to the institute are given therapy for rehabilitation. After they are fit to be reintegrated into the family, the institute authorities would approach the family and caretakers of the patient to take them back. There are many families that are eager to take their kin back home after the therapy, but there are many families that are less welcome for these patients even after treatment.

“Of the total admissions that we receive a year, around 25 per cent patients are not able to return to their families. Sometimes, it is because the patients have had relapse of mental illnesses and family fears the same again. Few patients do not continue the medications. So we make sure they can contact the mental health body in their respective district and receive therapy and treatment,” said Dr Poorna Chandrika, director, Institute of Mental Health.

The persons with mental illnesses are admitted to the institute by the family, through non-governmental organisations and by the police. Some get themselves admitted. “But it is only the patients admitted by the family who are easily able to return home. Despite being approached by the Institute, there are cases where the family does not turn up to take the patient with them,” added Dr Chandrika.

The experts at the Institute say that the State is in a need of more number of half way homes that can provide shelter to those who are not accepted by the family.