Bring Mental Health Care to Cambodians

A man, 35 years, lives in Svay Rieng province. He was a youngest child in his family. His one hand was chained to a pillar and his one leg was chained to another pillar of abandoned cottage.

He was so skinny because of having not enough care from his family, and not enough food. He was a student at university, could speak English and French. While he was sick with psychosis, he was referred to get medical treatment, then he was better. After that he relapsed and sent to hospital again, but was not better. His family felt hopeless for recovery and he was very aggressive, and harmful. Then family members decided to chain him for safety. He was chained for 17 years.

While TPO mobile team approached him, he can’t communicate and has no insight. TPO therapists prescribed medication for treatment and also worked with his family and his neighbors for raising psycho-awareness for seeking the support for him. It’s very challenged because he had conflict with his older sister who is a caregiver. He didn’t get proper care from his sister, this issue made recovery very slow.

This case was spent for almost 4 years of treatment for recovery. Now he is better and his family released him and integrated him into the family.

She, 29 years, lives in Bati disctrict, Takao province. Her family is very poor and her mother who is a widow has chronic illness.

She used to work at garment factory before she was serious mental illness. Meanwhile she had head injury with unconsciousness by accident and hospitalized at district level. Then she started having strange behavior: walking out, talk alone, withdrawal, crying, yelling at night, poor sleep, laugh without reason. Then her family brought her to district hospital for treatment and to see traditional healers, but it’s not improved.

Her mother who is caregiver can’t manage her. While walking out, she was raped and had pregnancy. Meanwhile it’s hard for her mother who is also sick, she was chained for preventing her from abuse and then took birth a daughter. A family took her daughter and adopted.

Later on she was released from chain but her condition was still in signs and symptoms of her mental illness. She walked out and then she was raped and had pregnancy again. She was chained again for preventing her from abuse and then took birth a son. Her son was also adopted by another family.

TPO was contacted to provide treatment for her. While reaching her house, her leg was chained. After the informed consent was done, we communicated with her firstly in order to assess her signs and symptoms and then we had meet with her mother and local authority for more information. Psychiatrist prescribed medicine for her. Meanwhile TPO treatment team provided psycho-education to family members and neighbors as well local authority to understand about psychosis, causes of psychosis and effective treatment as well their involvement in the treatment.

After getting treatment for 2 months, her family decided to release her from chain. Currently she could take care herself and cook food. She could answer to our question properly and question us about her condition. Her family also received help from Ptas Devada (God house) which is a program of H.E Hun Mana who constructed a house for the poor family. Her family also has got support from villagers.

She missed her son and expressed wish to see his face because she could see only his photo at her house, she said “I miss my son, I would like to see my son”.

Local authority and her mother mentioned with feeling excited that “they have never expected she is recovery like this, they felt hopeless”. They also thanked to TPO,Lok Chum Teav, Ptas Devada Program of H.E Hun Mana who involve in saving this family. Villagers expressed surprised and appreciate for her recovery.