Psychiatry in Uzbekistan: To Calm and Sedate
Information about the number of people with mental diseases in Uzbekistan is confidential and may not be disclosed. The health ministry refused to provide information to CABAR.asia.
In order to understand how the psychiatry system works from the inside, the journalist came to the psychiatric hospital and talked to doctors and patients. All talks were recorded both in audio and video format.
In order to understand how the psychiatry system works from the inside, the journalist came to the psychiatric hospital and talked to doctors and patients. All talks were recorded both in audio and video format.
The story of Sayp
Sayp Saripov is 36 years old. He lives in Termez and has had a mental disorder since childhood. He receives the disability benefit from the state in the amount of 560 thousand sum (50 dollars) and lives with his family.
His mother – Oibibi Saripova – told us his story:
- My child has lagged behind his peers since childhood. He started walking and talking late. My husband divorced me because of that and married another woman. I was raising my child by myself – I left the kids at home alone and worked as a street cleaner.
Sayp attended school until 6th grade and then he was dropped from school because he could not acquire new knowledge. Every day he was crying sorrowfully. His classmates were making fun of him. At the age of 14, he started to receive the disability benefit.
My son was very wilful and jittery. He was hospitalised to the psychiatric hospital several times. The situation in psychiatric hospitals is very miserable. Patients are given little food – just a piece of bread. In psychiatric hospitals, mental patients are given sleeping pills only to make them sleep, and those patients who do not sleep are being discharged.
Then we took my son out of the hospital. Even now the hospital provides us with medications. But I don't give the medication to my child because I know it is not ok for him.
My son got married when he was 32 and now he has two daughters. I am old now and he's got a wife who takes care of him. Now I am asking Allah to cure my child.
His mother – Oibibi Saripova – told us his story:
- My child has lagged behind his peers since childhood. He started walking and talking late. My husband divorced me because of that and married another woman. I was raising my child by myself – I left the kids at home alone and worked as a street cleaner.
Sayp attended school until 6th grade and then he was dropped from school because he could not acquire new knowledge. Every day he was crying sorrowfully. His classmates were making fun of him. At the age of 14, he started to receive the disability benefit.
My son was very wilful and jittery. He was hospitalised to the psychiatric hospital several times. The situation in psychiatric hospitals is very miserable. Patients are given little food – just a piece of bread. In psychiatric hospitals, mental patients are given sleeping pills only to make them sleep, and those patients who do not sleep are being discharged.
Then we took my son out of the hospital. Even now the hospital provides us with medications. But I don't give the medication to my child because I know it is not ok for him.
My son got married when he was 32 and now he has two daughters. I am old now and he's got a wife who takes care of him. Now I am asking Allah to cure my child.
Fell down and woke up in the psychiatric hospital
Rustam Dzhamshidov is 32 years old and he's also from Termez. He worked as a police officer, but he was injured in his head four years ago.
"I was hospitalised to the psychiatric hospital for more than 100 days after I fell down and was injured four years ago. Every six months, I am hospitalised for one month.
Hospital conditions are unsatisfactory. They give us little food. Treatment rooms do not have water, you need to go to the outside toilet. Toilets in the dormitory are closed, clean bed sheets and towels are provided only when inspection team comes.
Patients are administered sleeping pills. It would be great if patients could have more bread," Dzhamshidov said.
"I was hospitalised to the psychiatric hospital for more than 100 days after I fell down and was injured four years ago. Every six months, I am hospitalised for one month.
Hospital conditions are unsatisfactory. They give us little food. Treatment rooms do not have water, you need to go to the outside toilet. Toilets in the dormitory are closed, clean bed sheets and towels are provided only when inspection team comes.
Patients are administered sleeping pills. It would be great if patients could have more bread," Dzhamshidov said.
"I fear that they would kill my child"
Dzhonibek Abdullaev is 20 years old, he does not speak and hear. He lives with his sister and mother who does not want to place him into a psychiatric hospital because they have bad conditions and low qualified doctors.
"I caught a cold when I was pregnant and then I was treated. Then, my child was born. We didn't know he was mentally ill until he was 3 months old. He couldn't speak and hear.
My husband died. I had hard times with my ill child. I work as a nurse all day long, and my son disobeys his sister at home. He walks outside and everyone laughs at him. He doesn't harm other people but our neighbours said he drops litter everywhere.
He receives the state benefit in the amount of 560 thousand sum (50 dollars). I don't give him any medications prescribed by the hospital because this medication makes him sleep. I have never placed him into a psychiatric hospital. I fear that they would kill my child. I know that hospital conditions are miserable.
My child goes to mullah every month and when the mullah recites, he feels quiet. My salary is 1.2 million sum (100 dollars) per month. I want to cure my child once I have a chance," Dzhonibek Abdullaev's mother said.
"I caught a cold when I was pregnant and then I was treated. Then, my child was born. We didn't know he was mentally ill until he was 3 months old. He couldn't speak and hear.
My husband died. I had hard times with my ill child. I work as a nurse all day long, and my son disobeys his sister at home. He walks outside and everyone laughs at him. He doesn't harm other people but our neighbours said he drops litter everywhere.
He receives the state benefit in the amount of 560 thousand sum (50 dollars). I don't give him any medications prescribed by the hospital because this medication makes him sleep. I have never placed him into a psychiatric hospital. I fear that they would kill my child. I know that hospital conditions are miserable.
My child goes to mullah every month and when the mullah recites, he feels quiet. My salary is 1.2 million sum (100 dollars) per month. I want to cure my child once I have a chance," Dzhonibek Abdullaev's mother said.
"There are over 23 thousand mental patients in Surkhandarya region, including 1.5 thousand children under 12 years of age. The region has two psychiatric hospitals: one hospital is for 200 patients in Denau district, another one is for 400 patients in Termez district.
If a patient wants to get into a psychiatric hospital, they should sign up for the waiting list one month in advance. Only about 2 thousand patients out of 23 thousand receive medications from the state.
A person who is registered as a mental patient has no future. They cannot find a job. If they work somewhere, they will be fired. Mental patients never recover completely. Medications are administered only to calm and sedate them. If they don't take medications, they get ill again.
Patients in psychiatric hospitals may be treated one to three months twice a year only. But Uzbekistan pays little attention to mental disorders," said Azam Dzhumaev, doctor of Surkhandarya regional outpatient psychiatric facility.
If a patient wants to get into a psychiatric hospital, they should sign up for the waiting list one month in advance. Only about 2 thousand patients out of 23 thousand receive medications from the state.
A person who is registered as a mental patient has no future. They cannot find a job. If they work somewhere, they will be fired. Mental patients never recover completely. Medications are administered only to calm and sedate them. If they don't take medications, they get ill again.
Patients in psychiatric hospitals may be treated one to three months twice a year only. But Uzbekistan pays little attention to mental disorders," said Azam Dzhumaev, doctor of Surkhandarya regional outpatient psychiatric facility.
Authors:
- Zulfia Raissova,
- Daniil Lyapichev,
- Mazhab Jum'a,
- Abror Kurbonmuratov
Editor:
Natalia Lee
Illustrations:
Nasiba Karimova
Layout:
- Zulfia Raissova
This publication was produced as part of the mentorship programme under the Development of New Media and Digital Journalism in Central Asia project delivered by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) with support from the UK Government. It does not necessarily reflect the official views of IWPR or the UK Government
