Send us your comments

The use of caged beds has been condemned internationally

In our programme Out of sight, out of mind, Rosie Goldsmith travelled to the Czech Republic and also to Greece and found two very different ways of treating the mentally ill.

If you would like to comment on any of the issues this programme raised, or have a personal story to tell, please send us your comments using the e-mail form below:

---

Caged beds might be condemned internationally but the Czech Republic does not care. There have been extensive reports in the British press but the Czech media published only a brief comment on the coverage.

Hardly anyone here cares about the inhumanity of caged beds. The public opinion seems to be: "Oh, yes the Brits are telling us what to do again. They think they understand our situation but they do not.

"There is not enough money for hospitals so putting people into cages is the only reasonable option."

The Czech Republic has a history of hiding their mentally ill as the communists tried to pretend there were no such people Lucie J

The Czechs do not like to be criticised, no matter whether the criticism is constructive or not. Moreover, their excuse for any problem is "money". But surely it is not all about money? Do you think the nurses would stop addressing the caged by their surnames if they were given higher wages?

The Czech Republic has a history of hiding the mentally ill as the communists tried to pretend there were no such people.

Culture is diffucult to change, and admitting that you have a mental health problem such as depression is still socially unacceptable.
Lucie J

The mentally ill were treated as a state within a state inside the institutions and they are now a state within a state in the community.

The mentally ill are dumped into the community with unfortunate consequences for them and others. I know of a number of cases where people have been terrorised by the mentally ill.

There is fear in the public areas of the building where I live and even your own flat is not safe.
David Eden

While all uncovering of human rights abuses is to be applauded, I do not think we, in the 'older Europe' need feel so smug. Mental health patients here also suffer great abuse.

If one in four people suffer from mental illness during their lifetime, surely the problem is too big for people to ignore Anon

I was physically abused when I was being treated as a voluntary patient for a nervous breakdown. I tried to take it up with the psychiatrist to no avail. I asked to leave, and was even told that my voluntary status might be changed.

When I tried to take the matter up after my release, my file had disappeared! In affect, it would seem that in my country, when you go into a psychiatric hospital, voluntarily or otherwise, you lose all your rights and with them all your dignity.

If one in four people suffer from mental illness during their lifetime, surely the problem is too big for people to ignore.
Anon

This is very sad, but is it more tragic than the death of Anna Lindh in Sweden, murdered by an ill man free due to "modern" attitudes towards mental health?

Western countries have lost most of their mental hospital beds since 1960. We now have hundreds of murders committed by mentally ill persons every year in the US alone.

I do not feel comfortable judging the Czechs Robert

Our city streets are swarming with deranged and potentially violent persons who should be in hospital.

Certainly, hospitals should be humane institutions, but the rest of humanity should be able to live in safety. I do not feel comfortable judging the Czechs. Their methods are no worse than ours.
Robert

I spent a long time in Czech Republic over last few years. In fact I nearly married a Czech.

You do not see - anywhere in the country - mentally or physically handicapped people.

My Czech friends said Czech people are ashamed of depression.

I got depression and my former Czech girlfriend was ashamed of me Andrew

Then I lost my job; I got depression and my former Czech girlfriend was ashamed of me.

My Czech friends disowned me and asked me not to contact them again.

Now I am rebuilding my life, but not in the Czech Republic.
Andrew

Terms & Conditions

The comments we publish are not necessarily the views of the BBC but will reflect the balance of views we have received. It is helpful if contributors state if they work for any organisation relevant to an issue discussed. Readers should form their own views on whether messages published represent undeclared interests, or views prompted by a common source.