It was disturbing to read the article "Abuse Said to Be Rampant in
Turkey's Mental Hospitals" in the November 18, 2005, issue. The group
Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI), which prepared the report on
Turkey's psychiatric hospitals, should plan follow-up visits in a couple of
years to monitor whether there has been any progress. I hope the MDRI will
also plan similar visits to India in the near future.
While reading this story, I thought about the mental health situation in
the United States in 2005. In my view it is worse than abusive. Here are the
facts:
I have a serious suggestion, that is, that the MDRI conduct a survey of the
homeless in the Washington, D.C., area and arrange survey visits to all the
correctional facilities.