This is the song of a Mental Patient!
Some situations are accidental! Some, are pre-mature and some are by default embodied in the human body by birth. Here, let’s throw some light on one such situation of a Mental Patient.
For writing purposes, I have maintained the confidentiality of the name of the character in my article as this is a self- witnessed story from the writer.
BIRJU- THE CHARACTER
His life was simple.
He stayed longer in this world but his mother left. Now, what’s next?
THE LIFE AND AHEAD
Birju was the youngest son of my first tuition teacher. Her eldest son had the privilege of pursuing his master’s degree in the USA and managing a family abroad. While this family had a 1250 sq. ft. house on road no. 5. The uneven hall was a common space for the mentor’s teaching. At the immediate right corner of the entrance gate, was the private room of Birju.
His routine started with cycling, eating breakfast (bread and jam) on time and painting with his mother’s students. But he never smiled and observed more. Even on his 21st birthday, he had the same routine to follow, the same way he maintained the consistency when his mother passed away.
THE NEW HOME
Soon, Birju was admitted to a mental care hospital, far away from his home city, into a new state. This was an immediate call- contact with a stranger as he went missing for some 4 days in the city. Now, what’s next?
THE STATS OF MENTAL HOSPITAL
As per the website of the NHRC India, there are nearly 46 Government Mental Healthcare Institutions that are reported to be in a deteriorating condition. While we have a record, however, some of them are adverse possession for charity funds and monetary purposes in the name of support.
BIRJU AND THE CHALLENGES OF HIS NEW FRIENDS
While we have tremendous data available for the awareness of the patients, here, we cannot disregard the challenges faced by a lot of mentally regarded patients.
04 common challenges faced by Mental Patients
- Hygiene Issues arising out of irregular attendance
2. Illegal custody of the cured patients
3. Cases of unnoticed physical, mental and emotional abuses
4. Exploitation inflicted for income source purposes
WHAT CAN WE CHANGE?
The anomalies in the life of a mental patient are common and unheard of. Yet, they deserve their share of change, new beginnings and mentality.
- Say no to plain coloured uniforms and pave the way for common clothes
- Manageable batches of outing facilities with the utmost care, outsourced/self-undertaking for nature and life awareness
- Meditation practices for anger management
- Hygiene awareness for the manageable batch with continuous human attendance
- The awareness of good and bad touches for the patient and alert symptoms for emergency conditions
THE LAST SONG OF BIRJU
I came here on the moon,
I will leave in calm.
My mother was my habit and routine, I find you in the biscuit of butter.
Now, I am flying and free, twinkling goodbyes and observing.
My search is to find you everywhere, wherever these roads take me,
Sometimes I am tired of running, and sometimes with no food.
But, why these roads are all the same? Why, oh Why?
