Office of the Ombudsman Identifies Problems at the National Mental  Health Center

ArmInfo. Representatives of the office of the Ombudsman of Armenia identified a number of problems at the National Center for Mental Health.

According to the press service of the office of the defender of human  rights, the Center is overloaded and the standards of the normative  area of the living quarters for patients are not respected. Also  revealed were the installation of beds in the corridor and the  detention of persons with mental health problems, which is  unacceptable. Violations of the order of application of measures of  restraint were recorded; injuries sustained by the patient or the  person exercising deterrence, as well as information on the  effectiveness of the measure of restraint, are not recorded properly;  means of physical restraint - outdated, and in insufficient quantity;  physical restraint is often carried out in wards and in the presence  of other patients.  Expired medicines and medical supplies were  discovered; patients receiving care and compulsory treatment for many  years are not subjected to fluorographic examination. The absence of  such specialists as a neurologist and cardiologist in the staff was  also revealed. Highly specialized consultations are organized when  absolutely necessary, and psychiatrists themselves prescribe  treatment for somatic diseases, which is unacceptable.

The departments need fundamental repairs, the conditions of the  hospital rooms are inadequate (old beds, lack of wardrobes,  insufficient artificial lighting, etc.). In addition, the clothing of  persons with mental health problems and who cannot personalize it,  after washing, is distributed to them according to the principle of  randomness.

In some departments of the center, bathrooms are in need of repair.  In all departments, there was an urgent need to repair showers. The  entrances of the Center are not equipped with ramps, as a result of  which patients with mobility problems have difficulty walking and  using the toilet. Of concern is the provision of nutrition to  patients suffering from various chronic diseases and in need of  dietary food.  In the dining rooms and kitchens of the offices there  is a need for repair. Issues related to the forced feeding of people  who refuse to eat were also recorded.

Patients are not duly notified of their rights; adult or legally  incapable persons in psychiatric organizations continue to receive  treatment with the consent of their legal representatives, being  practically deprived of the opportunity to express their opinion  about the treatment. In addition, the institution of guardianship is  not functioning properly, and proper control over the actions of  guardians in the interests of the wards is not exercised. The right  to visit persons undergoing a hospital forensic psychiatric  examination is not ensured.  Patients who do not have an individual  mobile phone in the absence of pay phones cannot call relatives or  establish a confidential communication with the relevant authorities.  Some patients do not have passports, which is why they cannot get a  pension, and they cannot be disabled. There is a need for retraining  Center staff; the working conditions of its employees are  insufficient.

The results of the visit to the Center and the corresponding  proposals on resolving the fixed problems were sent to the RA  Ministry of Health and the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.