14-May-2014 CHENNAI : A 40-year-old schizophrenic woman undergoing treatment at the Government Stanley Hospital, who jumped off the fifth floor of a building in the hospital, had a close call after she landed on the cushions arranged by Fire Service personnel on Tuesday. The woman, identified as Hemavathy, reached the 5th floor of the 10-storeyed building around 3:30 am on Tuesday and threatened to commit suicide. As efforts by the police personnel at the hospital outpost to persuade her failed, Fire and Rescue Services personnel were called in. A team of firefighters who arrived at the spot struck a conversation with Hemavathy, during which the woman agreed to have some water to drink. "But she was very adamant and warned that nobody should come near her. We had to throw a water bottle that landed near her. She drank the water," said V K Sampath Kumar, the leading fireman of Washermenpet Fire Station. Two firefighters then reached the fifth floor and started persuading Hemavathy to come down. "Even as we were standing on the fifth floor, she threatened to jump if we moved towards her. We asked her why she wanted to commit suicide, but she could not give clear replies and there was no coherence in her talk," said Sub-Inspector Tamilselvan. As another hour of vain attempts passed, a fireman and a police official tried to get hold of her. Upon realising that she was being cornered, Hemavathy suddenly leapt from the building. "Fortunately, a fireman got hold of her saree and for some distance she rolled slowly by holding on to the saree. Then, she lost grip and fell on the cushions arranged on the floor," said Sampath. The firefighters had made the precautions even as they were talking to Hemavathy. Doctors said Hemavathy did not suffer any injury in the fall and was under treatment at the hospital. She had been admitted on Saturday by staff of an orphanage at Red Hills where she had been staying for the past few years. "She is suffering from schizophrenia and has suicidal tendencies. She also has the tendency of inflicting injuries on herself. In fact, she was admitted for treatment for an injury she herself caused on her scalp," said a doctor. http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Schizophrenic-Woman-Jumps-from-Floor-5-of-Hospital-Saved/2014/05/14/article2223532.ece Woman escapes with injuries after jump from 5th floor at hospital 14-May-2014 CHENNAI: A 50-year-old woman jumped off a spiral staircase on the fifth floor of the Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital in the wee hours of Tuesday but escaped with minor injuries after firemen managed to prepare a 'bed' of mattresses on the ground. Police said Hemavathy, a resident of Red Hills, had been admitted to the hospital on May 5 for a head injury. The woman, who is said to be suffering from schizophrenia, had herself caused the injury to her head and had appeared depressed since then, they added. She had injured herself in the past too. Around 3.30am on Tuesday, a patient noticed her missing and informed the nurses on night duty. They tried to go near her but stayed away after she threatened to leap to the ground. The nurses then informed the fire and rescue services personnel, some of whom climbed the fifth floor to convince her. Other members of the rescue services team arranged thick mattresses on the floor to form a 'bed'. On the fifth floor, one of the firemen trying to convince her to get down, got hold of her saree but she jumped off. The incident created panic among onlookers but doctors said Hemavathy suffered almost no injury in the fall and was continuing treatment. She had been admitted by officials of an orphanage at Red Hills where she had been staying for the last few years. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Woman-escapes-with-injuries-after-jump-from-5th-floor-at-hospital/articleshow/35079112.cms? -- -- 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 --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
