Mental disorder not a reason for isolation
Residents of bld. 28 in Yerevan's Sebastia district live in constant fear because of a neighbour with mental disorders.
The madwoman, Varduk [as she is called in the neighbourhood] has lived in the building for 45 years. The neighbours state that Varduk has become rather aggressive recently.
She throws objects out of the window, steals things from neighbours and swears them at every pace.
"We fear lest she should beat an unknown child one day and court disaster. Varduk breaks plates and throws them at the entrance for children to slip and fall on broken pieces," complained the neighbours.
Psychiatrists say a person with mental derangement is as dangerous and unpredictable as a healthy person.
"One needn't fear an insane. As soon as you feel that the illness aggravates, you should call an ambulance. Doctors will decide to hospitalize the patient or not," said Armen Soghoyan, deputy director of a psychiatric medical center.
According to the RA law "On psychiatric service," patients with mental disorders, like all other people, have rights and responsibilities, and nobody has the right to restrict their rights unless they present a danger to themselves or to society. Their forcible hospitalization is allowed if they pose a real danger to society.
They should live as ordinary people, and be treated as a full member of society.
