Treat schizophrenics early, urge psychiatrists, rights workers

Fifty-year old Rebeka Begum, not her real name, is a 27-year old schizophrenia patient, who was taken to a Dhaka clinic only recently for treatment.

Her doctor told bdnews24.com that it was too late to cure her.

Stigma is the “biggest problem” that people with schizophrenia face in Bangladesh, psychiatrists and mental health rights workers told bdnews24.com before the World Mental Health Day on Friday.

This year, the day is observed with the theme “living with schizophrenia”.

Begum’s doctor who cannot be quoted to maintain patient’s confidentiality said her husband left her after she gave birth to a baby girl.

“Her father was educated and rich, but he did not get her treated. He made a separate room for her at the top of his building (at a posh Dhaka neighbourhood) where she lived in isolation.

“Now she is under my treatment because of her daughter. Her daughter grew up and took her to the clinic,” the doctor said.

Schizophrenia is a complex mental health problem that affects the way people think and perceive the world around them.

“It’s a severe mental disorder,” said Dr Muntasir Maruf, a psychiatrist at the National Institute of Mental Health and Research.

“It disrupts their thinking, affects language, as well as perception.

“They undergo psychotic experiences like hearing others’ voices that do not exist or suffer delusions and can behave in a disorganised way.”

But one in four patients can be cured fully, if the treatment starts early, he told bdnews24.com.

But stigma obstructs treatment.

“People do not understand it’s a mental health problem. They think they are possessed by evil spirit.

“And they are reluctant to seek help or treatment. When they come, it’s too late,” Dr Maruf said based on his hospital experience.

There is no national statistics for the number of schizophrenia patients in Bangladesh.

The WHO estimates at least 1 percent of the total people living with mental health problems in Bangladesh is schizophrenic.

But the problem is they occupy most of the hospital beds since they need admission for treatment.

As much as 35 percent of the total admitted patients at the National Institute of Mental Health and Research last year were schizophrenic.

A Dhaka-based Welfare Society for Mental Health and Rehabilitation called for greater awareness of the disease before the Mental Health Day.

“Stigma is a very big issue that prevents them from healthy living,” Badrul Mannan, General Secretary of the Welfare Society, told bdnews24.com.

He said he knew people who were working in different professions taking medicare, but some were hiding their disease as they fear losing their job.

“I knew even journalists with schizophrenia, but they were now doing well,” he said, urging people to understand the disease.

“Being ostracised by the society, they also suffer from a guilt feeling -- that they have the diseases because of past sins.”