Mental health focused

Program to care and cure minor cases:

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The National Mental Health Institute will pay Rs 200 per day, free meals, care and protection for the persons with minor mental disorders who visit the daycare centre to be opened by the institute next month, Health Ministry sources said.

According to the sources, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena will ceremonially open the daycare center next month which is to be established at the National Mental Health Institute, Angoda.

It will cater for persons with minor mental disorders. The center will assist the families who do not have caretakers to look after their mentally sick family members during the day time.

The institute will provide all the resources required for them to be involved in self-employment.

The hospital will provide space, tool kits and material for home gardening, home decorating, pottery, painting, etc.

The hospital will undertake the selling of goods produced by these mentally handicapped people.

"There is a high demand for their productions such as paintings. The patients will receive a daily allowance of Rs 200, free meals, care and protection," the sources said.

There are around 700 cured persons in the institute without being able to go back to their homes.

They do not have contacts with their families or guardians. The hospital look after them, the sources said.