Conditions at mental hospital not decent and ‘humiliating’

By George Psyllides

CONDITIONS at the state psychiatric hospital in Nicosia could in no way be considered decent, it emerged on Friday, as the ruling DISY party called on the government to draft plans for a new facility.

MP Stella Kyriakides, who visited the Athalassa facility as part of a DISY delegation led by party chief Averof Neophytou, described the living conditions as ‘humiliating’.

“We think the current conditions at the Athalassa hospital … does not honour our society and we cannot talk of dignified living conditions,” she said.

The hospital was built in 1965 and funds for the construction of a new one were removed from the state budget ten years ago apparently after the government decided it had other priorities.

The facility is used for the temporary treatment of cases and currently accommodates around 80 inmates.

Kyriakides said a society’s culture was reflected in the places where suffering people were being treated.

The visit was held to mark the World Mental Health Day, which is observed on October 10 every year.

Kyriakides said her party will try to get the ball rolling so that funds were included in the budget for the construction of a new facility that would act as an infirmary and not an asylum.

The ruling party MP appeared certain that a new hospital would be back on the cards in the next few years.

Deputy director Maria Pitta expressed hope that there will be political will to improve the conditions and the creation of a new psychiatric hospital.

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