Athaliah Reynolds, Staff ReporterDR WENDEL Abel, head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of the West Indies, Mona, has called for the clo-sure of the country's largest and longest-running mental institution.
He said the 147-year-old Bellevue Hospital located on Windward Road in Kingston has become inefficient and outdated and is draining the State of both time and money.
Abel, who was speaking on Friday during a function in recognition of World Mental Health Day at Ferdie's House in Liguanea, St Andrew, said the method of locking away people living with mental disorders in a "human warehouse" is no longer an accepted or effective way of treating mental illness.
The renowned psychiatrist is proposing the establishment of small community group homes with a population of about 10-14 patients to replace the hospital.
Human warehouses
"That's where the world is going. No longer are we treating people in mental hospitals, because mental hospitals are considered to be human warehouses," said Abel.
He said Government was spending roughly $100,000 per month per patient on a system that was ineffective.
"It's a waste of money and it's an inefficient system. With that money, the Government could set up more centres like (Ferdie's House), all over the city, all over Jamaica. That is what we want," he argued.
In a community-based setting, patients would be able to lead normal lives while they are treated for their mental disorders. There are at present six of these homes in Jamaica.
He was, however, quick to add that he was not calling for the immediate lockdown of the facility but rather, that more resources be spent on creating additional smaller community group homes.
"Every time we talk about closing Bellevue, there's a massive public outcry because people don't understand that it's not about closing Bellevue. It's about providing more services at the community level so that people can live regular and public lives," explained Abel.
Total patients dip from 3,000
He said over the years, fewer patients have been sent to Bellevue for treatment. The hospital now houses a population of 700 patients. This, he said, was a significant dip to the 3,000 patients it had in 1970.
According to Abel, data show that there are more than 30,000 mentally ill persons in Jamaica, the majority of whom have been treated in a community-based setting.
athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com.
