The dark side of mental illness: Kin abandon patients at hospital in Mumbai

The Regional Mental Hospital, Thane, popularly known as Thane Mental Hospital, currently has 909 patients. File pic

A 60-year-old Mumbai-based man has been living in the Regional Mental Hospital, Thane for the past 10 years, though he had recovered from bi-polar disorder in 6 months. His family has refused to take him back, saying bringing him back may wreak havoc for them. Unfortunately, he is not a solitary case, there are around 242 such patients at the hospital, popularly known as Thane mental hospital, whose families have abandoned them.

Another 60-year-old woman has been living in the hospital for 8 years as her family - husband and children - changed their address and contact number. "She always asks us when her family will come and take her back home, but they have changed the address and blocked our numbers, let alone visit her," said an attendant, adding, "It's really painful to see such patients who await for one call or one visit from their families."

As per law, mental

hospitals cannot discharge the patients even after recovery unless a family member authorises the same and takes the responsibility of the patient. Currently, the hospital has 909 patients, of which 242 have been living there for over two years as their families refused to take them back citing various reasons. Of these patients, 65 have been there for over 20 years and are chronic and unable to communicate while 39 of them have been living there for between 10 and 20 years.

The hospital provides

free stay to patients whose families cannot afford the treatment while those who can have to pay R22 per day rent to the hospital. The rest, including medicine, gets covered as part of government grants.

Reasons for abandonment

"We had patients whose families did not want to take them, but the number has gone up during the pandemic," said Ranjana Donode, psychiatric social superintendent at the hospital. "Families who don't want the patient change their address or block our contact numbers, leaving them lying here for years," she added.

Satish Wagh, another psychiatric social superintendent, said, "We have a 38-year-old patient who was brought for bipolar disorder 8 years ago. He worked for a security company and was the sole breadwinner. But even as he has fully recovered now, he is still in the hospital. His family said that due to complaints from neighbours saying they do not want an ‘insane' person living in the neighbourhood, they had to move twice and don't want him anymore. The patient now helps other inmates, takes care of them. It's really painful to see him living without his family."

Swati Kulkarni, another psychiatric social superintendent, said, "My experience tells me that nobody wants a mentally ill patient at their home. Even if they are on medication and are capable of their daily chores, the family avoids such members. But the hospital is for treatment and recovery, not to house them forever."

‘Need a change in mindset'

"Mental illness is still considered taboo and comes with a stigma. Hence, once a person gets admitted to an institution, most relatives don't take them back. People should understand, mental illness can be cured in some cases and the patients can lead a normal life. But there is a need for a change in mindset in the society," said Dr Netaji Mulik, medical superintendent at the hospital.

Dr Harish Shetty, a psychiatrist, had moved the Bombay High Court in December 2021 highlighting the plight of patients admitted in institutions though they are not seriously mentally ill. He cited the case of a woman who had languished in Regional Mental Hospital in Thane for 12 years. The plea claimed that neither the woman's husband nor her family was willing to accept her though her condition was stated to be normal and she was ready to be discharged in 2014. Admitted in 2009, she was finally discharged in 2021 after the recommendation of a court-appointed expert panel.

Some reasons cited by families

>>Can't afford patient's expenses
>>Embarrassment due to patient's presence
>>Fear that the patient might get aggressive
>>Trouble from neighbours or society members

Some of the illnesses reported at the hospital

>>Schizophrenia
>>Bipolar disorder
>>Polysubstance Drug Addiction
>>Fits with psychosis
>>Mental Retardation
>>Anxiety
>>Alzheimer's disease

65
No. of patients living in the hospital for over 20 years