BEST HEALTH care practice now dictates that persons with mental illness be treated outside the confines of large mental institutions and within the community where they are kept in touch with their relatives and friends.
This international paradigm shift in treating mentally-ill patients began in the 1950s when the "warehousing" of patients, as the only treatment option, in large mental institutions, was supplemented by the introduction of anti-psychotic medication. The use of these newer, faster-acting medications became more widespread in the 1960s and 1970s and facilitated the discharge of patients in a functional state to become productive members of the society.
The close-down of The Bellevue Hospital in Kingston, though controversial, is in keeping with this new trend. This gathered momentum at the start of 2003, and is part of the local health sector's strategy to shift mental health care from large institutions and into community health care centres and hospitals' throughout the island.
The mentally ill form part of the population of street persons in the major urban centres, along with victims of drug addiction and those simply impoverished. In this connection it may seem surprising that a new shelter for the homeless in Montego Bay is still vacant three weeks after being officially opened.
There could be several reasons for this. For example, there is a dearth of local studies which properly define Jamaica's homeless situation. Health experts indicate that following international definition of homelessness, though persons may live on Jamaica's street during the day if they have a fixed place to sleep at nights, they may not be considered homeless.
The location of the shelter may also be an issue, if it is sited too far outside the city, then it may not be attractive to homeless persons. There are also other issues cited by health professionals such as persons living on the streets become accustomed to the streets, develop their own patterns of living and habits and should be exposed to some form of social skills training to be re-socialised into living in a home.
It would therefore be prudent to take all these factors into account in providing facilities for street people be they mentally ill or simply destitute.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
