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)