Day care service for mental health patients

by Manjula FERNANDO

The National Mental Health Institute at Mulleriyawa will commence a day care service for mental health patients, staying with their families in Colombo and the suburbs.

A spokesperson for the Health Ministry W.D.M. Wanninayake said the objective of this initiative is to ease the burden on families saddled with mental patients who struggle for time between daily chores.

"Caring for these people is not that easy. The families have to make a tremendous effort and enormous sacrifice when agreeing to let the patient to be with them. The service will be of immense relief for such families," he said.

Wanninayake said there are nearly 700 patients who have recovered after treatment at the hospital but are still waiting for their kith and kin to take them home.

The charity service initiated by the Director NMHI, Dr. Jayan Mendis will facilitate patients to stay at the Institute during the daytime and engage in self employment such as pottery, interior designing, sculpture, home gardening, etc., for which a daily payment of Rs. 200 will be made.