Recovered Srithanya mental patients help peers

>> A peer support programme is being introduced at Srithanya Hospital, the country’s best-known mental institution, in the hope it will help increase quality of treatment.

The programme enlisting the help of fellow mental patients is being launched by the Department of Mental Health.

Department chief Boonruang Triruangworarat said Srithanya Hospital is the department’s core facility to treat and rehabilitate people suffering mental health problems and nurse them back to normal condition so that they can reintegrate into society.

The Nonthaburi hospital serves about 100,000 patients per year, most of whom are outpatients. It treats around 5,000 inpatients, half of whom are diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The rest are mentally ill as a result of drug abuse.

Dr Boonruang said the department’s goal was to develop the hospital into a hub of knowledge on treatment and rehabilitation of mental conditions. This requires improving the ambience in the hospital buildings and creating a homely feel for patients that can boost their treatment and recovery.

Under the peer support programme, fully recovered patients are given special training to help fellows on the road to recovery.

“Those already cured can make a remarkable difference to other patients by assisting them and being their inspiration to get better,” said Dr Boonruang. “They can also help recovering patients regain confidence and mental power to complete the treatment and rehabilitation and find their feet again.”

If successful, the programme will be adopted by other mental hospitals countrywide.

The peer support concept in mental treatment is popular in other countries including the US, Britain, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong.

Dr Sirisak Thitidilokrat, director of Srithanya Hospital, said the hospital has been working with centres dispensing care to patients in Nonthaburi and Chachoengsao. Well-trained members of the peer support programme train personnel of the centres and the training will be evaluated at the end of year.