Cyprus says psychiatric hospital houses people who do not need hospitalization
People are staying at the Athalassa psychiatric hospital in Cyprus who, under normal circumstances, should not have been hospitalized in a psychiatric institution. This was stated on September 10 by Savia Orphanidou, chair of the parliamentary health committee, Cyprus Mail reports.
According to Orphanidou, such patients include children and adults with autism, people with eating disorders, and homeless people. She linked the situation to a lack of protocols and an insufficient number of support structures in communities.
Changes to legislation
The committee chair called for creating a different support system for these people both in the hospital and outside it, as well as developing appropriate structures in communities. She said that amendments to the current legislation were needed.
Orphanidou expects that by the end of the year, legislative changes may take place concerning hospitalization orders, psychiatric hospitalization, community care, and the establishment of appropriate structures.
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She also drew attention to the stigmatization of people after discharge from psychiatric hospitals, the need to support their families, and the prevention of mental disorders. Orphanidou proposed ensuring the presence of psychologists in schools and creating a national 24-hour hotline for people with mental illnesses. According to her, the government said such a line could begin operating as early as the first quarter of next year.
Complaints about staff shortages
AKEL MP Marina Nikolaou spoke of prolonged underfunding, staff shortages, excessive workloads, and the neglect of mental health services. In her assessment, the Athalassa hospital has for some time been operating at the limit of its capacity because of overcrowding, a lack of beds, delays in establishing community structures, and problems with rehabilitation and patients' reintegration into society.
Nikolaou said that staffing at child psychiatric units is not sufficient to safely and adequately meet the needs of children across Cyprus. She called for completing the second and third stages of the hospital's renovation, hiring additional staff, ensuring the full operation of therapeutic teams, and strengthening and restoring the work of community services.
