Blog #4 South Sudan's vicious mental health cycle

This article discussed the disturbing acts associated with the mental health cycle in South Sudan Africa. In Juba Sudan, mental illness is considered a disease attributed to witchcraft, which the mental ill is often ostracized as being wild and a dangerous threat to society. According to the article communities often view mentally challenged people as misfits with families neglecting and abandoning their sickly kin. Moreover, because of families neglecting their mentally ill kin they are forced on the streets. Many of these people loiter, at times totally naked, scavenging for food to survive. Mostly in rural and remote areas people suffering from mental health problems are sometimes treated so harshly and is pushed until their homes become the bushes and forests. These mentally ill patients are more than likely thrown in jail, which may be secure, but unfit to even harbor human beings.

It is was devastating to learn that some people think that mentally ill people are a threat to society and should maintains their placement in prison. On the other hand they need a secure place where they can be stable and obtain treatment. After reading the article I understood that mental health professionals claim that although there was a high level of post-traumatic stress disorders after years of civil war, South Sudan lack mental health legislation. Psychotropic drugs are not common even in the country’s specialized hospital in the capital Juba teaching hospital where patients are expected to find for their own food. With no health care or psychological treatment these patients will not be able to have a more suitable life. I think this is a serious problem in Sudan that is being swept under the rug. These mentally ill patients are being taking advantage because of their condition and because they are handicapped. In addition to this, they also have feelings which the article did not discuss.

http://www.theafricareport.com/index.php/east-horn-africa/south-sudan-s-vicious-mental-health-cycle-50181258.html