COVID-19 linked to increase in men at psychiatric hospital
There is an increase in men seeking mental health treatment amid the COVID-19 pandemic, says St Giles Psychiatric Hospital director of nursing Miliakere Nasorovakawalu.
She said a large proportion of this was because of drug disorders caused by issues that arose from depression and addiction.
“As we speak, we are treating an immense number of males with an age range of 25 to 40, and we have noticed that their issues were related to the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
She said mental health complications differed between diagnosis and gender. “There are some who have psychotic disorders. Then there are some with alcohol and other drug disorders,” she said.
“We have also seen that for psychotic disorders, it occurs more in males and for mood it occurs more in females.”
She said, there were more males than females receiving treatment in the hospital. She added it was evident that whatever was happening in Fiji was also the case in other countries.
Hospital capacity
Ms Nasorovakawalu said there was an 80 per cent occupancy rate at the male and female wards in the hospital.
“There is a 100 bed capacity at St Giles Hospital, 55 for males and 45 for females. “Roughly, we have an 80 per cent capacity of patients who are currently admitted and treated as we speak.
“This illness is multi-phased; it does not pick and choose with anyone. You don’t have to come from a broken or struggling family alone, anyone can be suffering from this illness.”