2,000 suffer from mental disorders

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)