2,000 suffer from mental disorders

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Local health officials say about 2,000 people here suffer from various degrees of mental health problems, Antara reported yesterday.

Director of Samarinda Mental Hospital Imawan Sasongko said the condition was caused by factors such as depression, physical ailments, including malaria and typhoid fever, and postnatal depression.

The state-owned hospital's capacity is only 200 people and it is currently treating 150 patients, he said. He called on the public to seek medical attention as early as possible for relatives or family members who display signs of mental illness.

"The sooner someone receives treatment, the greater the chance they will recover," Imawan said. (swe)