Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Al-Amal Hospital for Mental Health is home to many female patients suffering from different mental ailments, such as schizophrenia, depression, paranoia and others. These women were living normal lives with their families, but fell prey to mental illnesses and required treatment. Some of these women have recovered, but their families are refusing to accept them back into their homes. Such women have no other alternative but to remain in the hospital, which in turn affects their mental status and may cause a relapse of their conditions. In addition, such a situation puts great pressure on the hospital, which has only 74 beds and a large waiting list. L.G., a female patient, was admitted to the hospital 13 years ago, suffering from paranoia. Her family visited her only three times since she was admitted to the hospital. She said her hobbies include gymnastics, karate and sports in general. As she spoke, she seemed quite normal, but suddenly, she started complaining that she has become a burden on everyone and an outcast in society. She then covered herself with her veil, believing that there were men in the room. N.A., a woman patient, has been in the hospital for the past eight years suffering from schizophrenia. She claims that she has learned to speak and write in 1,000 languages and that her merit and excellence over her peers was the reason she was admitted to the hospital. A.N., a woman patient, was another who has spent the last 20 years in the hospital suffering from schizophrenia. She was continuously reading the Qur'an, which she has wholly memorized. She suddenly stood at a corner in the room, and began crying about being separated from her husband and children, although she was never married. A.A., another patient, has spent the last 18 years in the hospital, and was rehabilitated only a few months after she was admitted. However, her family's refusal to accept her back caused her to relapse, and she is now suffering from chronic mental illness. Her father has remarried and claims that he does not have the time to visit his daughter, while her brothers have abandoned her. Other patients were seen completely covered in their beds and were suffering from debilitation and insomnia. Some of these women were lawyers, writers and university students. Huda Al-Amr, a social worker, said mental patients are not insane, but they are individuals who have experienced difficult circumstances and incapable of coping with them. They are in need of special care and, as part of society, they have the right to be rehabilitated and accepted. She added that mental disturbances are caused by hereditary factors, in addition to environmental and social factors. Neglecting such patients by their families will only worsen their condition, and necessitates their admittance to hospital. She said many families admit their patients into the hospital, and neglect to visit them for long periods. Some patients are completely rehabilitated and can leave the hospital and lead a normal life. However, repeated calls from the hospital to these families are ignored, and they claim that they cannot care for their cases. Such behavior causes patients to relapse, and causes them even worse anguish than they originally had. Patients who spend a long period in the hospital cannot leave, as they cannot merge into society and deal with their environment. Such patients are better off remaining in the hospital. The hospital has only 74 beds, and cannot accept cases that are in further need of treatment; they can only be included in the long waiting list. Wafiyah Al-Hayef, another social worker, agreed the recovery of about 70 percent of drug addiction and psychological disturbance cases depends on the care of the patient's family. She believes that the Ministry of Social Affairs, in cooperation with the Shariah courts, should enact laws to require families to accept patients from the hospital after they are rehabilitated. She criticized those who believe that the hospital is an accommodation for patients and not simply a place for rehabilitation. Dr. Abdulhameed Al-Habeeb, general manager of mental and social services at the Ministry of Health, said psychologically disturbed men suffer more than women. He said the ministry has many programs to deal with such cases, such as house visits. In case of negligence by a family, a report is prepared and submitted to concerned authorities to take the necessary steps to protect the patient, and provide him with the appropriate medical and social care. In case a family is incapable of caring for the patient, or there no available beds at the hospital, then the patient is housed in special accommodation. Dr. Ibrahim Al-Shaddi, spokesman for Human Rights Commission, said the commission monitors such cases, and notifies the concerned bodies to solve any problems.
