~ Drug use up, marijuana being mixed with embalming fluid ~
PHILIPSBURG–The dire need for a new location, understaffing and the challenges faced in executing its tasks were amongst the concerns Mental Health Foundation (MHF) shared with Members of Parliament (MPs) during a meeting of Parliament’s Committee for Health, Labour and Social Affairs VSA on Thursday.
Another concern raised was the fact that drug use in the country is on the rise, alluded to as one of the causes of mental health issues in many patients. The common choice of drug is marijuana, which is sometimes mixed with other substances such as embalming fluid.
Healy told MPs that MHF’s most urgent needs are for a guided living facility for patients, forensic psychiatric care, an expanded crisis facility, a new building, and support from stakeholders and government.
Regarding the need for a new location, Healy said MHF had purchased its existing location, a former hotel building, in 2010. The building was old and MHF obtained additional funds on its mortgage to carry out urgent repairs such as erecting a new roof and security system.
“Now the walls are cracking,” she said, adding that when the building was purchased MHF had been told that a sewer system would be installed in the area within a year, but this was never done. She said the area is a valley and whenever it rains, water from the neighbourhood ends up on the MHF premises. MHF has to pump its septic tank weekly and pays some US $20,000 a year in pumping expenses to maintain a safe and hygienic environment.
MHF is bursting at its seams and space is needed. “We need more cells, we need more counselling space. When have four psychologists, we don’t know where to put patients and staff, because we have only two psychologist offices.”
She said the foundation is currently examining its options. It has its eyes on a plot of land to purchase and is looking at funding possibilities via local banks, as it has a good record with the repayment of its existing mortgage. The general pension fund administrator APS had also expressed interest in having a long-term project with MHF, so this is another option for the foundation. The goal is to construct a new building that is permanent and adequate for the foundation’s needs.
Healy said MHF had requested that the Health Minister submit the foundation’s name for emergency funding from the Recovery Trust Fund, but is “not on the list” and she never was given a reason.
She stressed the need for better cooperation between MHF and Turning Point Foundation, the Department of Social Welfare, Social and Health Insurances SZV, and the VSA Ministry, as a lot of the work of these organisations overlaps.
Regarding financing, she said MHF no longer received financing directly from government since 2015. The funds are transferred to SZV, which pays MHF based on a budget system.
She made clear that MHF operates under certain regulations and cannot admit persons against their will if they are not a danger to society and to themselves. Involuntary care is only possible in cases where persons pose a danger to themselves and their environment. The foundation often receives calls it them to pick up patients on the road, but Healy said that although the patients can be a nuisance, the foundation is bound by rules and can only admit patients if they agree to be admitted.
MHF has seen an increase in drug use over the years. Calling it a serious matter, Healy said MHF is currently the only facility allocated by government to admit involuntary patients. Although drug use is on the rise, addiction is not considered an illness and is not covered by insurance.
“And this is a serious problem,” Healy said. “Most addicted patients do have a mental health component, but we cannot register them for their addiction. We do register them on their mental component.”
She also outlined some concerns regarding the AVBZ fund, its coverage and the registration of patients.
Another issue is that MHF has no communication with the Pointe Blanche prison. The challenges encountered by patients as it relates to insurance once incarcerated were outlined. She said also that there is need for a separate facility for mental health patients who commit a crime so that they can be treated safely.
The total number of treatment hours MHF provided in 2017 was 9,139; the total number of admissions/crisis days was 1,582; total number of short and long stays was 150; total number of child therapy was 275; other therapies totalled 522; and total number of day treatments 5,742.
Healy, who retired several years ago, but returned to MHF in an interim capacity while the search is on for a new director, raised a number of other issues during the meeting. Several questions posed by MPs on the mater were answered.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/80130-mhf-paints-grim-picture-of-current-circumstances
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