A broken portion of the compound wall at the Institute of Mental Health on Medavakkam Tank Road in Ayanavaram has become a gateway for trespassers. Ever since the wall collapsed three months ago, substance abusers and sex workers have been entering the premises, leaving behind used needles, condoms and empty liquor bottles.
Hospital sources said a portion of the five-feet high wall collapsed due to years of weathering. Taking advantage of this, miscreants enter the hospital premises after sunset and indulge in anti-social activities. “The patients are the worst affected as they need peace and a quiet atmosphere to recover. Many get scarred due to the nuisance created by these anti-socials,” said a hospital official.
Founded in 1794 as a private asylum for 20 patients, the Institute now has 1,800 in-patients from Tamil Nadu and Puduchery. It is no more an asylum for custodial care, but a place for enhancing mental health and a training centre for mental health professionals.
In fact, among institutes across the country that deal with mental health, this one is the second largest. It was taken over by the government hospital in 1922 and was re-named Institute of Mental Health in 1978.
One of the challenges that the officials face in terms of security is the vastness of the hospital as it is spread over 60 acres.
With inadequate staff and security personnel, hospital authorities find it difficult to monitor the premises. “Except at the main entrance of the hospital, the entire premises is covered in thick bushes. We restrict ourselves to the wards, where our dear ones can be found, and return from the hospital,” said K. Vani, a resident of Choolai.
Hospital sources said that several communications have been sent to the higher-ups on the need to clean the premises and re-construct the damaged wall to prevent the hospital from being misused. The efforts have however not led to any improvement.
