The families had taken the measure because of fear their mentally ill members would create problems, hurt people or themselves, Suwirman, secretary of the Solok Selatan district`s social, manpower and transmigration office, said here Tuesday.
"According to data we were able to collect, the mentally sick people had been kept in isolation for an average of three years or starting in 2009," he said.
The shackles used were mostly made of wood but in two cases they were iron chains, Suwirman said.
Of the 13 isolation and shackling cases, seven were found in Sangir subdistrict, three in Pauh Duo, two in Sangir Jujuan, and one in Koto Parik Gadang Diateh. The mentally ill people ranged in age between 18 and 39 years old.
Their families had ever have them treated medically but could not do so for long because of financial reasons most of them being poor people.
Suwirman said his office had so far been unable to help the families pay their mentally ill members` hospital bills but he would soon try to find a way to have the medical treatment resumed in coordination with the local health office.
What his office had been able to do to help the families so far was providing them with basic necessary packages containing rice, canned food, instant noodles and milk, he said.(*)
HAJM/H-YH
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
