Number of people suffering from schizophrenia increased in Armenia (video)
Deplorable conditions in medical facilities, overcrowded patient wards, medications… The picture was observed in Armenia during the recent study conducted by the Ombudsman’s Office in mental health treatment facilities. Tatevik Khachatryan, Armenia's deputy human rights ombudsman, presented the results of the survey on Monday. Along with all these drawbacks, the study has revealed that punitive and coercive measures are often applied in the facilities. “Patients informed us that they are frequently subjected to physical violence by the personnel who, in the presence of other patients, can scroll arms and inject a patient, thus creating an atmosphere of fear in the ward,” she said. Overall, 46 000 people in Armenia have mental disorders in Armenia, with 16000 of them suffering from schizophrenia. Samvel Torosyan, the chief psychiatrist of Armenia, there has been an increase in the number of patients which, he says, is conditioned by the social conditions. For more details watch the video
