*Santosh Andhale* *Nov 23 2010 **, Mumbai*
A woman, whose son was forcibly taken away from her two years ago because she was mentally ill, was reunited with her family and child after being discharged from the Thane Mental Hospital recently. Over two years ago, Suman Singh (name changed), now 34 years old, was abando ned by her husband. When her poor parents, too, refused to take care of her or file a case against her husband, she went into depression that later led to schizophrenia. In November 2008, she left her parent’s home with her four-year-old boy, spending almost a month on the roads. On December 2, 2008, she was travelling from Asansol in West Bengal in a Mumbai-bound train with her child when her fellow passengers realised she was mentally ill. At Satna railway station in Madhya Pradesh, they informed the police, who took the child to a local child welfare committee. Unable to comprehend what was happening around her, Suman travelled by train to Mumbai where the police admitted her to the Thane Mental Hospital. She spent 22 months there. Meanwhile, Suman’s family in Asansol searched for her and the child and even filed a missing person’s complaint with the police. They were able to trace the child, who is now around six years old, to the adoption home in Satna. But they were not given his custody, as the identification process was not complete. After substantial recovery at the mental hospital, Suman was recently able to remember the address of her home in West Bengal. “When she was brought to the hospital, she did not even know her address. After treatment, she could talk coherently with our social workers. She also gave them her address. We contacted the people there, and they recognised her by name. She also identified her brother,” said Dr Sanjay Kumavat, superintendent, Thane Mental Hospital. Recently, the hospital discharged her and sent her back to her home with the hospital staff. The child was taken to his hometown to be united with his mother. Kumavat said: “Suman can continue treatment at the nearest civil hospital. We are happy that she has been united with her family after spending a long time at the hospital.” http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_mentally-ill-mom-in-mumbai-reunites-with-son-after-recovery_1470640 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
