Now, dial 100 to help the mentally ill who have lost their way

Think of the number 100 and the first thing that comes to your mind is crime. Well, now you can dial the number to inform authorities about mentally unstable people roaming around in the city with no one to take care of them.

For, city-based Hospital for Mental Health (HMH) is all set to begin a control room to help report on vulnerable mentally unstable people. This effort is in collaboration with the police department.

The HMH has created an expert team to help rescue such people and to ensure that they are admitted to a hospital.

"There are many such people who roam the city and they are in need of physical and psychological help. We will begin this project from January 6," said Dr. Ajay Chauhan, superintendent for HMH.
As per the law, the police are duty-bound to get mentally unstable people admitted to a hospital if they get information about the same.

Earlier, IPS officer Keshavkumar had began a drive to admit such people to the HMH through the police department. The initiative had received a tremendous response.

However, later, the drive lost its zeal either due to the reluctance on part of the police or lack of awareness among citizens.

"We had earlier cured many such patients and ensured their proper rehabilitation in the society. Before being brought to us, many of them were found roaming the streets," said Dr. Chauhan.

"At present we get one or two patients every month and this too with the help of police. But we are hopeful of citizens coming forward to help such people once the drive is publicised. We are optimistic that the drive will get us 25 to 30 such patients every month," he said.

The HMH has cases where several such mentally unstable people, who after proper medical and psychological help, managed to remember their earlier life and family details. The hospital thus helped reunite several people with their families.

As part of the project, if one has to inform about a mentally unstable person, he/she needs to dial 100.  This call will then be diverted to the HMH's helpline number and a team of psychiatrists, social workers of the HMH and other staff will be sent to the spot were the patient was found.

The team will then evaluate the patient and if need be will ensure that he is admitted to the hospital for proper care.

"Citizens should come forward to help such people who have lost contact with their families due to their condition. Through treatment and counselling we can help them lead a normal life and try to reunite them with their families," said Dr. Chauhan.