IHBAS was earlier known as Hospital for Mental Diseases (HMD), Shahdara and was started by the East India Company during the British Raj. Later, in 1993, the Supreme Court ordered it to be used as a centre for treatment, training, and research. It is one of the largest mental hospitals in the world in terms of patients served and area covered.
A feeble woman, suffering from some mental illness had separated from her family back in Assam. She had left her village and was travelling to meet her brother who used to stay in Kerala. She ended up in Delhi for some unknown reason and upon further inquiring about it, she did not know. Authorities brought her to the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) after they noticed her serious mental condition.
She was prescribed medication by doctors because she had schizophrenia, a severe mental illness. She weighed only 30 kg and did not talk or speak to anyone about anything. After three months her condition stabilized, and she told the doctors that she is a mother of three children and has a husband. She even revealed that she had separated from her husband due to some issues. Upon contacting her in-laws, they refused to give out any information regarding her family and home. This could have been because of her mental condition and the isolation she suffered because of it. A new team was set up of authorities who contacted the district authorities in her village and even visited the place to find out about her family. They were successful and now the woman is finally reuniting with them after nine months.
Schizophrenia is a very serious condition in which a person suffers from disorganized thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Psychosis is a debilitating thing to go through, especially when you are alone and have no support system. A person needs 24/7 care, need and attention when they are suffering from an episode of psychosis. They could be potentially harmful towards themselves or others as well, hence in-house treatment facility such as a rehabilitation centre or a hospital is a must.
Her body weight increased from mere 30kgs to a healthier weight of 74kg. She is very fit now and has decided to meet her parents and then go to her in-laws to meet her children. She has two sons and one daughter. “Finally, I’ll be returning home.” She spoke.
The director, of IHBAS, Dr Rajendra K Dhamia revealed that they reunited 33 patients in 2021, including 14 women with their families while in 2020, 24 patients were reunited with their family members.
Associate Professor and Head, Uday K. Sinha mentioned that The boundary of Mental Health Care is beyond the framework of psychopharmacological treatment and IHBAS as an institution has constantly demonstrated this. Integration with the family and the company of close ones add to the quality care of a person with severe mental health illness is proven once again.
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