Help found for mentally challenged 18-year-old
The public has phoned in wanting to assist the family.
There’s been a breakthrough in the story the Advertiser published on June 15, titled “Mother’s plea to help a mentally ill child”.
The article dealt with a Windmill Park mother who desperately needed help for her mentally challenged 18-year-old son.
Central Gauteng Mental Health Society in Katlehong have also intervened. They admitted the 18-year-old at Thelle Mogoerane Hospital in Vosloorus to be mentally assessed.
He was diagnosed with profound intellectual disabilities with behavioural problems.
The organisation works with people with mental disabilities including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and intellectual disabilities.
Society manager, Mmabatho Masoga and Lillian Mahooa (social worker), visited the family on June 20.
Masoga said when they heard about the story, they saw a need to visit the family personally and to assess the situation.
“Since we didn’t know the diagnosis of the 18-year-old, we then called the ambulance so that he can be admitted in the hospital. In all our cases if there’s no diagnosis it becomes difficult for us to place the client in a relevant institution. We rely on the psychiatrists report.
“The Dawn Park SAPS then escorted us because we were told that the 18-year-old was violent,” Masoga said.
Masoga said in terms of the Mental Health Act, the SAPS also have to play a role in terms of escorting the client in a situation when the mentally disabled person is a danger to other people or himself.
“Most families don’t know that they can get help from the hospital without seeking private transport, his mother could have called the ambulance they would have assisted.
“If you have a child with mental disabilities and you have a challenge with transportation you have the right to call the ambulance.”
Masoga said the 18-year-old hasn’t been placed in a mental institution due to not having an identity document.
“We are still waiting for the mother to go to Home Affairs and try to retrieve the child’s birth certificate and will try to assist to get him to get an ID then we will take it from there.”
She said if mentally challenged people don’t take their treatment they relapse.
“It doesn’t mean that every patient who has a mental disability must be placed in a mental institution, some of them can cope in communities as long as they take their treatment.
“In the 18-year-old’s situation, we have to remove him from his home due to his situation at home. He needs to be stimulated, there are some things he cannot do, he should be in an environment where he will be taught.”
Nontsokolo Lungela, the mother of the 18-year-old, said since her son returned from the hospital he was no longer violent.
“He now sleeps at night, when you tell him to do something he does it, he is much calmer now,” Lungela said.
Masoga advised parents with children with mental disabilities not to hide their children.
To find out more about the organisation, you may phone 011 909 0152. Local emergency services 011 458 011/ National toll-free 10177.
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