Don't go mad these days

BANYUMAS, Central Java: People with mental problems should avoid this town because its mental hospital has been fully booked since campaigning began two weeks ago.

Hospital director Sutoto said yesterday the 60-room hospital was so overwhelmed that patients had to wait days for beds to become available.

"People coming for treatment are mostly civil servants, elementary school teachers, college lecturers, students, farmers or traders," he said.

There have been no surveys on why more people have been seeking treatment at the hospital since campaigning began.

There has been no survey to find out if the increasing number of people seeking treatment in the hospital has to do with the heating political climate ahead of the May election.

The United Development Party has accused the government of pressuring civil servants to help Golkar win the election.

Elementary school teachers are struggling after their meager salaries have been slashed by the government.

Sutoto said patients were usually admitted to the hospital after faith healers had given up on them. (wah/har)