Visakhapatnam: Plight of homeless with mental illness worsens in second wave

VISAKHAPATNAM: A lack of adequate rehabilitation shelters coupled with legal complexities in hospital admission has worsened the situation of

homeless

persons with

mental illnesses

amid the raging second wave of the pandemic.


Psychiatrists say there are over 200 such homeless people in Vizag city.

Dr Ramanand Satapathy, professor of psychiatry at Government Hospital for Mental Care (GHMC) Visakhapatnam, who has rescued and had many such patients treated, said, “As per the new Mental Health Care Act, 2017, police can directly bring such homeless and mentally unwell persons to the hospital, procure a reception order from the magistrate and get them admitted. Since they do not have any Aadhaar or ID cards and are unable to recall their addresses, it becomes difficult for them to get government pension of Rs 2,000 and benefits of any social welfare schemes. In one case, a patient could not be given hearing aid from a government hospital as she had no Aadhaar card or address proof. Despite reception orders with the police, patients are not admitted after 2 pm at GHMC and often there is delay in getting reception orders from the magistrate.”

A number of such patients are often found loitering near the railway station, bus stations and KGH bus stop. Doctors say most of them are either schizophrenic or bipolar and can get improve if proper treatment is administered.

“The need of the hour is inter-departmental coordination among police, judiciary, social and disability welfare departments, NGOs and doctors to streamline the admission and treatment process of such patients, setting up rehabilitation shelter for them and ensure they get some ID proofs to avail social welfare schemes and disability pension,” added Dr Satapathy.