Address mental health crisis in Fiji now!

The revelation by Dr Kiran Gaikwad, the Acting Medical Superintendent of St Giles Psychiatric Hospital, about patients being abandoned, neglected, and left to die, is inhumane, and sad.

It is surprising that Fijians can stoop that low. The news is deeply alarming, disturbing, and demands immediate attention. Such inhumane treatment is unacceptable and is against the values of compassion and care that Fijians are renowned for.

Every family, especially those whose loved ones face mental health challenges, need to know that abandonment is cruel. It is a sin. It can affect the speedy recovery of your loved one.

St Giles Hospital, built in the 1920s as an asylum, now stands as a crumbling health facility in dire need of modernisation. Its aging infrastructure including dark cells of bare rooms and lack of basic amenities, is like a prison. It adds suffering to our loved ones battling mental illnesses.

They suffer from severe stress, depression, and or emotional disturbances. They deserve a facility that should not confine them. They need hope, dignity, and the best treatment.

Mental health is often stigmatised in Fiji. This affects those affected. Abandoning them fuels homelessness, street living, and social alienation. They will feel neglected. It is important for

Government to take immediate notice and enact laws that safeguard the rights of mental health patients. Laws to integrate and accept patients back into their homes – not rejected and ‘being chased away.’

Fijians must show love, understanding, and inclusion. Patients deserve a supportive home where love and care help in their recovery. Public awareness and education are necessary to end the stigma against mental illness.

Government must upgrade St Giles, provide modern facilities, and strengthen mental health legislation. It is time to walk the talk and ensure mental health patients receive the attention and compassion they deserve.

Feedback: maikeli.vesikula@fijisun.com.fj