Open Access
Subscription Access
Open Access
Subscription Access
Community Mental Health Service for Chronically Neglected and Wandering Mentally Ill Patients:A Collaborative Approach Towards Distinctive Psychiatric Population
Subscribe/Renew Journal
Homeless mentally ill persons represent the most neglected, disadvantaged and vulnerable section among the mentally ill. Homelessness amongst those who are mentally ill is due to a combination of several factors ranging from stigma, neglect, abuse, financial burden... to societal discrimination, hindering their treatment and reducing the quality of life. The aim of the study is to evaluate the presentation, clinical profile and rehabilitative outcome of wandering mentally ill patients examined in psychiatry OPD. The objective is to establish them as a distinct psychiatric population requiring special attention and time. Considering the larger implications for health care delivery, the burden, and scope, retrospective file review of outdoor unidentified wandering mentally ill patients brought to psychiatry OPD. All case files (psychiatric as well as medical files) of wandering mentally ill patients who were brought from October 2017- October 2018 were included for the study. It was found that 49 (73%) ofthe patients who improved partially with treatment were rehabilitated in the NGO, MDSS itself as their families were not traced or few families refused to accept the patients. Their medication, food, bathing and maintenance of hygiene was done under supervision. Patients who were rehabilitated, they improved to the extent that they started doing their daily activities along with helping in cooking, serving food, cleaning, gurudwaras activities or helping other non-psychiatric patients of the NGO in dressing of their wounds, dispensing medicines and assisting in carrying those patients to other hospitals under supervision. 15 (22%) patients were relocated at their respective homes among them few patients were not brought for treatment, some patients were again left back after rehabilitation andrelapsedback. 3 (5%) patients expired due to unknown reasons.
Keywords
Homelessness, Mental Illness, Abuse, Neglect, Rehabilitation.
Subscription
Login to verify subscription
User
Font Size
Information
- Lawrie, S. M. (1999). Stigmatisation of psychiatric disorder. Psychiatric Bulletin, 23(3), 129-131. Cambridge University Press, doi: 10.1192/pb.23.3.129.
- Chandra, P., Carey, M., Carey, K., Shalinianant, A., & Thomas, T. (2003). Sexual coercion and abuse among women with a severe mental illness in India: an exploratory investigation. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 44(3), 205-212.
- Singh, G. (2016). The clinical presentation and outcome of the institutionalized wandering mentally ill in India. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. Doi: 10.7860/Jcdr/2016/19497.8681
- Kumar, P. (2014). Homelessness and mental health: Challenging issue in an Indian context. American International Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, 7(2), 160-163.
- Crisp, A., Gelder,M., Goddard, E., &Meltzer, H. (2005). Stigmatization of people with mental illnesses: A follow-up study within the changing minds campaign of the royal college of psychiatrists. World Psychiatry, 4(2), 106-113.
- Wiersma, P., Epperson, S., Terp, S., LaCourse, S., Finton, B., Drenzek, C., & Finelli, L. (2010). Episodic illness, chronic disease, and health care use among homeless persons in Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, 2007. Southern Medical Journal, 103(1), 18-24.
- O'Toole, T. P., Gibbon, J. L., Hanusa, B. H., Freyder, P. J., Conde, A. M., &Fine, M. J. (2004). Self-reported changes in drug and alcohol use after becoming homeless. American Journal of Public Health, 94(5), 830-835.
- Usatine, R. P., Gelberg, L., Smith, M. H., & Lesser, J. (1994). Health care for the homeless: A family medicine perspective. American Family Physician, 49(1), 139-146.
- Kanjilal, D. (2006). Neglect ofthe mentally 111. MANUSHI, 152, 27.
- Read, U. M., Adiibokah, E., & Nyame, S. (2009). Local suffering and the global discourse of mental health and human rights: An ethnographic study of responses to mental illness in rural Ghana. Globalization and Health, 5(1), 13.
- Nwaopara, U., Abasiubong, F., & Umoh, O. (2016). Mental health care of homeless mentally ill patients in Akwaibom state, Nigeria: Rehabilitation model, challenges and strategies for improvement. Journal oflnternationalResearch in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 10(2), 60-68.
- Bebbington, P. E., Angermeyer, M., Azorin, J. M., Brugha, T., Kilian, R , Johnson, S., & Euro, S.C. Research Group (2005). The European schizophrenia cohort. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 40(9), 707-717.
- Brekke, J. S., Prindle, C., Bae, S. W., & Long, J. D. (2001). Risks for individuals with schizophrenia who are living in the community. Psychiatric Services, 52(10), 13581366.
- Foster, A., Gable, J., & Buckley, J. (2012). Homelessness in schizophrenia. Psychiatric Clinics, 35(3), 717-734.
- Tripathi, A., Nischal, A., Dalai, P. K., Agarwal, V., Agarwal, M., Trivedi, J. K., & Arya, A. (2013). Socio-demographic and clinical profile of homeless mentally ill inpatients in a north Indian medical university. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 6(5), 404-409.
- Koegel, P., Sullivan, G., Bumam, A., Morton, S. C., & Wenzel, S. (1999). Utilization of mental health and substance abuse services among homeless adults in Los Angeles. Medical Care, 37(3), 306-317.
- Murthy, R S. (2017). National mental health survey of India 20152016. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 59(1), 21-26.
- Hsu, Y. C., Lin, W. Q., & Kuo, H. W. (2017). Schizophrenic patients' poor perception in personal hygiene. Age ('year), 20(30), 25.
- Lipton, F. R , Sabatini,A.,&Katz, S. E. (1983). Down and out in the city: The homeless mentally ill. Psychiatric Services, 34(9), 817-821.
- Brickner, P. W., Scanlan, B. C., Conanan, B., Elvy, A., McAdam, J., Scharer, L. K., & Vicic, W. J. (1986). Homeless persons and health care. Annals of Internal Medicine, 104(3), 405-409.
Abstract Views: 327
PDF Views: 0