Number of mentally ill soars during crisis

Number of mentally ill soars during crisis

JAKARTA (JP): A West Jakarta mental health center has been
overwhelmed with a stream of new patients as the economic crisis
has apparently driven more and more people off-center, an
official says.

The center, Bina Laras Harapan Sentosa in Cengkareng, has seen
its occupancy rate rise by a record 8.8 percent over the past
month, forcing the management to accommodate 65 newcomers in a
building that is still under construction.

"The sanatorium is crammed with 304 patients, 31 of whom were
admitted this month," said Baihaki, chief of the center run by
the Ministry of Social Affairs.

The center is accommodating patients from other centers in
Jakarta such as Kedoya, Cipayung and the Grogol Psychiatric
Hospital.

"I believe the rapid increase in the number of admissions has
to do with the economic crisis, which shows no sign of abating,"
Baihaki was quoted by Antara as saying Monday.

"Many of them are migrant workers disappointed to find the
situation in Jakarta is not as rosy as they had imagined."

The city administration has allocated Rp 1.6 billion
(US$200,000) for the construction of the new buildings on a 1.5-
hectare plot.

The center is understaffed, with only eight full-time
employees and 13 volunteers.

"You can imagine how overwhelmed they are trying to serve
hundreds of mental patients," Baihaki said.

West Jakarta Mayor Sutardjianto has promised to lift the
status of the 13 volunteers to full-timers so they are entitled
to the Rp 5,000 minimum daily wage the government has set for
Jakarta workers, he added. (pan)