Relatives of mental health patients have been urged to integrate them into society after stabilisation, as they can live normally if they take their medication. This comes as some patients are stuck at psychiatric centres even after being stabilised as relatives shun them. Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital has a female patient who was stabilised in 2004, but none of her relatives have come forward to take her home.
"We want to conscientise the community on mental health issues," said Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital medical superintendent Dr Collet Mawire. It has not been looked at closely. People tend to shun those who have mental health problems. There are patients who have had to stay at the psychiatric unit after they have been rehabilitated, including a lady who has been around since 2004 with no one to claim her."
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