The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Duren Sawit mental institution in East Jakarta has reported a sharp rise in patient numbers over the Idul Fitri holiday.
Spokesman Muhamad Guntur said most of the new patients admitted by the hospital came from low-income families.
He said many of the patients were checked into the hospital because the families did not want to care for them during the holiday.
During the Idul Fitri holiday, the hospital saw the number of inpatients it was treating more than double from 70 to 150, which is maximum capacity for the city health agency-run institution.
""We had to turn away many patients because of the limited beds here. Families seeking to reserve a place after Oct. 13 could not get a place,"" said Guntur.
He said patient numbers began rising about a week before Idul Fitri.
The spokesman added that patients were beginning to be released to their families now that the holiday was ending.
""Lebaran is a time to unite with family. Although these people still celebrated the day here, it was not the same. They were with strangers,"" said Guntur.
The family of one patient, who asked that their names not be used, said they checked their family member into the hospital because they did not want to have to take care of him during the trip to their hometown for Idul Fitri.
Guntur, however, dismissed such concerns.
""The mentally ill are not a burden during a long journey. Many of them (checked into the hospital) were stable and able to travel.""
Most of the patients checked in before the holiday have previously been treated at institutions.
""I guess they (the families) were worried that their mentally ill family members would make them look back among relatives and friends. I don't think it's about the travel,"" said Guntur.
There are only two government-run mental hospitals in the city. In addition to Duren Sawit hospital there is the Soeharto Heerdjan hospital in Grogol, West Jakarta, which is run by the Health Ministry.
Soeharto Heerdjan spokeswoman Sri Supami said the hospital treated around 180 inpatients over the holiday, a 30 percent increase from normal days. (12)
