OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE PLANS EXTENSIVE STUDY OF PROBLEMS OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISORDERS

ARMENPRESS
07 April

YEREVAN, APRIL 7, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian branch of the Open Society
Institute plans to conduct an extensive study of social, legal and
other rights of people with mental disorders within several next
years. According to Anahit Papikian, who supervises health projects
of the Institute in Armenia, no such study was conducted, though the
need for it has matured.

She said the study could be used as a basis for implementing various
mental health programs.

The Open Society Institute is already funding a Yerevan-based center
for people with mental disorders, which renders various services
to some forty such people. The center does not provide them with
medications. The goal is to help people who spent a lot of time in
mental hospitals to get integrated back into the society.

Another center in Ashtarak gives lodgings to three such people who are
actually homeless. Papikian said financial problems and the absence
of government assistance are the main obstacles to expanding the
network of such centers.