Jakarta Governor: City Invaded by the Mentally Ill

jpnn.com - JAKARTA – Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama has admitted difficulties anticipating the huge number of the mentally ill people invading Jakarta. He stated that social institutions owned by the provincial government take care of more mentally ill people from outside Jakarta.

“In our social institutions, 60 - 70 percents are the mentally ill people from outside Jakarta,” the governor said in the city hall on Tuesday November 17.

According to the governor known as Ahok, the mentally ill people were different from residents with social and community problems (PMKS). Jakarta has been successful handling PMKS and it is no longer a serious problem to the city.

“The homeless and beggars handling has been successful, their number is decreasing,” Ahok added. They are forced to sign a statement that they will never come back to Jakarta. If they are caught once again, they will be considered as criminals.

Regarding the mentally ill homeless people, he planned to build more facilities to treat the mentally ill starting next year. The mentally ill would receive therapy with help from medical staff and psychiatrist until their behavior back to normal.

“That’s why they are called the mentally ill. They do not know where they live and where to go home to. So, we look after them. The problem is the rehabilitation center was not enough,” Basuki said. (gil/apa/jpnn):en="339137"