Universal Patient Rights Association underlined the need for an effective mental health system in the country, in a statement on October 10, World Mental Health Day.
The Universal Patient Rights Association (EHHD) noted that there is a “need for a mental health system in the country that prevents the emergence of mental health disorders, detects them early, ensures that individuals with mental health problems are cured and reintegrated into society, and that they reach them effectively and appropriately”.
EHHD published a message on the occasion of 10 October World Mental Health Day. In the statement, it was pointed out that there is little in the name of the desired “mental health system” in the country, from the protective-preventive leg of health to the treatment and rehabilitative legs.
In the statement, it was stated that there are no specialized facilities providing care services for mental health patients and individuals with mental disabilities, and that their families are also experiencing serious difficulties, and it was pointed out that the first and only mental illness hospital in the country is Barış Mental and Neurological Diseases Hospital.
In the statement, it was pointed out that the psychiatrists serving in the hospital see approximately 25-30 patients a day, in this hospital where there is a large number of patients, medicated treatments can be applied to individuals due to time constraints, and therapies cannot be applied by psychiatrists.
“Session times, which should ideally be 45 minutes, can only last 10-15 minutes. The absence of an appointment system in Barış Mental and Neurological Diseases Hospital appears to be a compelling factor for the patients. Patients have to come to the hospital early in the morning and spend all their days in the hospital.
This creates a serious problem for both patients and their relatives. The number of doctors working in the hospital also makes it difficult to meet the current demand. It has been learned that the number of physicians serving in the hospital has decreased considerably with the resignations and permits experienced in recent days and the services have come to a standstill.
There are also problems with the drugs required for treatment at Barış Psychiatric Hospital. ECT (Electro Convulsive Therapy), which existed in the first years of the Peace Psychiatric Hospital, has not been performed for many years and the patients have to be referred.
In addition to new treatment methods such as TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), new generation drugs are not available in the hospital. Although there is a unit operating under the name of AMATEM, a fully structured treatment and rehabilitation service cannot be provided for the treatment of alcohol and substance addicted patients.
Since the hospital does not have an emergency room for after-hours services, patients need to go to the emergency department of general hospitals. Applying to the general emergency service during the exacerbation or crisis situations of psychiatric diseases forces both the patients and their relatives, and the personnel working in the emergency room.
The hospital does not have a laboratory for blood tests. For this, patients are being directed to Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital. This causes examinations to be performed after a long time, sometimes 30 days. Such delays cause many delays and negativities in the treatment of patients. Experts acknowledge that the current system presents many difficulties for patients and causes disruptions and deficiencies.”
EHHD pointed out that there is an urgent need for taking preventive measures to prevent the emergence of mental illnesses and a national mental health policy in which other relevant stakeholders are included in the cooperation, as well as appointing the relevant personnel to the necessary staff, eliminating the infrastructure and drug deficiencies and introducing new technologies in order to make improvements in these matters. He noted that he will follow up whether the necessary budget is allocated for the use of next-generation drugs and treatment methods.
In the statement, it was also stated that the association will continue to carry out monitoring and reporting studies on whether the necessary actions are taken in order for the public to receive a modern mental health service”.
