*Nov. 30*: The number of mentally ill patients roaming the roads of Mettur have increased noticeably. Police sources say that at least 15 mentally challenged persons are presently loitering in the small town, known for tourism borne out of the Stanley Reservoir. As news spread on Tuesday about a 33-year-old mentally ill person from Omalur being smashed to death by an unidentified person, people started speculating that another mentally ill person, who used to move around with the deceased, was behind the killing. The suspect is not traceable.
While the police are investigating the matter, locals blame the phenomena on people from adjoining districts who leave their mentally ill relatives here. The only home for the mentally ill in Salem was inaugurated last month and has a capacity of 50 inmates. But people from neighbouring districts apparently dump them in Mettur. While some of them end up as beggars, others simply wander about and eat the garbage thrown out of hotels. Meanwhile, social activist Mr Ambulance Ganesh said that the number of deaths due to drowning in the Cauvery this year had been about 15, and most of them were orphans, throwing up another angle of Mettur becoming a home for the unwanted. Ms Catherine Jenila, the programme manager of the government-run home for the mentally ill in Salem, said, “We have 36 inmates — 21 men and 15 women — as of now they come from Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and other districts. If they are violent, then we refer them to IMH, Kilpauk.” http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/mentally-ill-deserted-roam-roads-mettur-060 -- 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
