Project Summary

The de-insititutionalization process of psychiatric care in Romania is characterized by a lack of community-based services. These services are needed to provide the necessary follow up and maintenance care to patients who have been dismissed by the psychiatric institutions. This situation results in a vicious cycle of psychiatric patients who, after being released by psychiatric institutions, are neglected by society and subsequently relapse. Too many “social cases” and mentally handicapped are involved in chronic psychiatric treatment.

The result is that hospitals are overburdened with patients that could otherwise be referred to the community-based (extramural) mental health care system. According to Amnesty International who carried out research in November 2004: “Placement practiced in Romania amounts to arbitrary deprivation of liberty; and the living conditions and lack of adequate treatment, when so deplorable, amounts to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.”

Project Summary