PESHAWAR, Oct 10: A function to celebrate the World Mental Health Day was held at the Peshawar Mental Hospital on Thursday.

The function was organized by Friends of the Mental Hospital Peshawar (FMHP) and Universal Human Rights Organisation.

It begun with comic skits, music and dance performed by patients.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Syed Mohammad Sultan said the major cause of mental health problems was genetic, but other reasons were, schizophrenia, anxiety and stress caused by circumstances.

“Joint family system, socioeconomic problems, service and workplace stress, drug addiction and sometimes love affairs can be the cause of  mental diseases,” he maintained.

Medical Superintendent Dr Zakirullah said that after admitting the patients to the hospital, the families did not visit them, which created more problems for them.

“The average patients go home after three weeks treatment, but they are admitted again due to lack of social support from their families and carelessness in giving medicines,” he said.

The hospital lacked funds for medicines, food and sanitation, he said and added that the NGOs donations were not enough to cater for the hospital’s needs.

FMHP General-Secretary Gulzar Wazir told Dawn that the condition of the hospital was deteriorating because of the government’s apathy.

“The Sardar Mehtab government had announced Rs50,000 donation, which did  not materialize due to military coup in 1999,” he lamented.

“The hospital’s capacity is 70, but more than 125 patents are being treated here and a lot are being refused,” he said.

He said the government should establish a mental health teaching hospital after demolishing the central jail, as it was adjacent to the mental hospital. “The mental patients need patronage of the government,” he added.

Another doctor asked the government to enhance the beds in the women’s ward and give land where the patients could walk and spend time, which was important for their treatment.

A patient belonging to Muzaffarabad told this scribe that there was no proper lavatory and no separate section for violent patents in the women’s ward. She complained about unhygienic food and suggested that special attendants should be deputed for each patient who is seriously ill.