Community mental health service for chronically neglected and wandering mentally ill patients: A Collaborative approach towards distinctive psychiatric population

Pages:29-33
Mamta Singla and Nidhi Aggarwal (Department of Psychiatry, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab)

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%) of the 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 and relapsed back. 3 (5%) patients expired due to unknown reasons.