Reintegration of Homeless Patients with Mental Illness (HPMI) in the Community—Challenges Faced During COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Bengaluru a tertiary care hospital. HPMI were admitted under Section 89 of the Mental Healthcare Act 2017, 7,8 with each admission reviewed "by the Institute Mental Health Review Committee due to the lack of implementation of Mental Health Review Board (MHRB) by the State Government." With case illustrations, this article draws attention to how the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown affected the HPMI and the challenges in providing care and protection and in reintegrating them back to the community. The article also provides certain guidelines for providing care and protection to HPMI during the pandemic. Case 1Mr M, a 35-year-old male, was brought by police as he was found wandering in the street. On observation, he was not interacting and was found muttering to himself. Immediately after admission to the observation ward, an RT-PCR test was done for COVID-19 screening, and he tested positive. He was shifted to the

Not All Who Wander are Lost: Fate of Homeless Persons with Mental Illness During COVID-19 Pandemic in North India—Case Series

“…However until further systematic research is available it is unwise to believe that HPMI are any different from others regarding their propensity for COVID-19 infection. None of them took personal protective measures at presentation and making them understand and adhere to Covid appropriate behavior remained a challenge during their ward stay, as reported by others as well [ 11 ].…”

“…A significant percentage of the country's homeless population suffers from serious and chronic mental disorders [ 6 , 9 ]. The process of treating mental illness and eventual rehabilitation in the society which was already a challenging process was mired in new challenges during the pandemic and lockdown [ 2 , 11 ].…”