Public Defender identifies problems at Western Georgia mental health facility

Levan Ioseliani, Georgia’s Public Defender, and his Deputy, Irine Chikhladze, have drawn attention to challenges at a mental health centre in the Terjola municipality during their recent visit.

The centre, housed within the Imermedi – Imereti Regional Medical Centre, is currently operating at maximum capacity with 18 patients. However, a statement issued on Tuesday highlighted significant infrastructure-related concerns.

According to the Public Defender’s Office, patients at the facility face limited access to outdoor spaces, while maintaining hygiene and sanitation standards remains difficult. The statement also noted a pattern of repeated hospitalisations among individuals, which it attributed to the lack of accessible, community-based mental health services in the region.

The report further criticised the absence of psychosocial rehabilitation programs and insufficient attention to patients’ individual needs.

Additionally, staff shortages, including a lack of essential specialists, were cited as a critical issue impacting the centre’s operations.

The Public Defender’s Office has committed to ongoing oversight of psychiatric institutions, with findings to be incorporated into parliamentary and special reports.