Eight mental health centre patients discharged after DLSA adalat

The 40-year-old slim and well-groomed man, who had been living at Peroorkada Mental Health Center for the last six months, wanted to go home and reunite with his family. But his family was torn apart. Past experiences had taught them that they could not stay away from alcohol.

He has a condition called alcohol use disorder. She may remain without a husband for months or even a year, but then relapse and become someone very distant from her beloved husband or father.

His wife said that he and his two children lived with their mother because he had no savings. It was impossible to get him back without asking his mother or other close relatives.

His wife said he promised not to touch even a drop of alcohol and that he would go to work and listen to her. She said she wanted to believe him, but even her children confirmed that she couldn’t be trusted to stay sober. He pointed out that his mother and siblings wanted nothing to do with him.

Eventually, it was decided that he would stay at Karuna Sai, a dead diction and mental health center in Vellanad, until his wife and children could all move into a rented house where they could stay together.

Manonyay-Nilavu

Seven other residents of the Peroorkada mental health center who are eligible for discharge are with their families or in psychosocial institutions after an adalat conducted by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) under the Manonyay-Nilavu ​​​​programs of the National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) and DLSA for the rehabilitation and repatriation of mentally ill patients and the Harmony Hub program for resolving problems in relationships through mediation. sent to live.

Tuesday’s adala was presided over by senior civil judge and DLSA secretary S. Shamnad. Adalat was assisted by seven DLSA panel lawyers.

In many cases, families were reluctant to take back their residents, most of whom were men, even though they were eligible for demobilization. They claimed that when the men returned, they would stop taking their medication and become violent towards them. Others claimed that they had no one to care for the patient full time. Some had to be sternly reminded that not only their own peace of mind was important, but also the patient’s peace of mind.

In one case, the family of a patient who had been living in the hospital for a year said they were trying to find suitable accommodation for him because they were also elderly and not well enough to care for him. His brother-in-law said they have been living with his mental health problem since 2010. His wife, who cared for him most of the time, was bedridden. His other brother was 87 years old. He also had heart disease. They needed some time to find a home for the man.

Adalat then decided to temporarily house him at Sradha nursing home in Venjaramoodu of the panchayat district.

Tears flowed, despair faded into silence, and rage broke out as families struggled to come to terms with their emotions.

An old woman was taken home by her daughter. He told his daughter Adalat that her father had agreed to take care of his wife.

In total, four patients went home to live with their families.