MENTAL health in the country has over the past two years achieved a dramatic drop of patients experiencing relapses, and being re-admitted to hospital.
According to the National Head of Mental Health, Dr Paul Orotoloa, the past two years has seen relapse rates drop to 60 percent and again to 20 percent the past year.
“It is indeed encouraging to see such drastic fall or drop of relapse experienced both here at the National Referral Hospital and also in the provinces.
“To have the rates drop from 60 to 20 percent is indeed a boost for us the staff responsible for patients experiencing mental illnesses,” Dr Orotoloa said.
Asked what may have been the reason for this? Dr Orotoloa said that proper rehabilitation of patients after being returned to their respective communities was the major contributing factor behind such.
“In a year we admit between 500-600 patients, some with short term mental illnesses whilst majority are those with long term mental illnesses which would require more care to be bestowed upon them.
“Our of these total number of patients, only ten percent reside at the mental institute at Kilufi Hospital in Malaita province, whereas the rest are discharged back to their communities to live under the care of their families,” Dr Orotoloa said.
He added that through the Social Rounds program conducted by the Mental Health Office here in Honiara, they have been able to cure and heal most of these patients resulting in the low number of relapses recorded.
By JEREMY INIFIRI
