In the district of Korca, there are over 3,000 citizens reported with mental health issues, with experts saying that recently 1 out of 10 people suffers from a behavioral disorder of some sort.
The trend has been on the rise; however, experts note that they have not displayed any criminal tendency, except in cases when they are known to consume illegal drugs.
“People with mental disorders are not dangerous or criminals, as some people tend to see them, especially in recent days. So it must be clear in our minds that a person with mental health issues is not a criminal. But if these people are under the influence of substances, such as alcohol and drugs, then they might become a risk to the public”, explained Roland Lalaj, a psychiatrist.
According to the psychiatrist, public institutions need to show more attention.
“A person with mental health disorders shouldn’t be sent right away to a psychiatric hospital, and time has shown that this isn’t efficient. That person can be better treated by combining medication and counseling rather than being hospitalized. The world has been cutting down psychiatric hospitals for a long time, whereas in our country there are still plenty”, said Dr. Lalaj.
According to the person in charge of the home assistance service in Korca, the best solution is rehabilitation as opposed to jailing.
“Taking away the freedom of a person who has committed a criminal act is one side, but in order to have these people reintegrate in society takes up the largest and most difficult task, which is rehabilitation”, says psychologist Çiljeta Simaku.
“The objective is working on rehabilitating these people so that they are able to live properly in a society or a community”, she added.
According to statistics retrieved from mental health institutions, over 60% of the inmates at the Drenova prison suffer from some type of personality disorder and are consumers of illegal substances.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
