SIEM REAP, NOVEMBER-28: a 40 year- old schizophrenic man who's been locked into a smal hut for one month after a fit, tries his first steps outside in a village near Siem Reap, November 28, 2006, Cambodia..In addition to the expected occurrence of mental illness that is found in any country of the world, Cambodia has the additional burden of mental distress due to years of conflict and oppression.The country's entire infrastructure, including the health system, was destroyed during the Khmer...
more »

SIEM REAP, NOVEMBER-28: a 40 year- old schizophrenic man who's been locked into a smal hut for one month after a fit, tries his first steps outside in a village near Siem Reap, November 28, 2006, Cambodia..In addition to the expected occurrence of mental illness that is found in any country of the world, Cambodia has the additional burden of mental distress due to years of conflict and oppression.The country's entire infrastructure, including the health system, was destroyed during the Khmer Rouge reign and years of civil war. Only in recent years , several non governmental organizations have helped provide mental health services and training in the country in collaboration with local healers..Mental health service is relatively new to Cambodia, but much needed. Before the Pol Pot regime Cambodia only had one mental hospital for the whole population which was destroyed during the years of horror..Modest by western standards, the first mental health clinic for all of Cambodia was set up in Siem Reap by a team from Harvard University in 1994. .This is because many refugees settled down in and around Siem Reap. 102 doctors and counsellers were trained by the Harvard specialists in the late nineties as more than 80 percent of the population was traumatized by the Pol Pot years, and even more during their years in the refugee camps. Studies have shown that most Cambodians showed PTSD ( Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) symptoms similiar to the Jewish survivors of concentration camps. . .As for the future, Cambodians are sceptical if there'd be a fair trial for the people . It'd be very difficult to bring patients to the capital Phnom Penh to witness . Due to Cambodias underdevelopped infrastructure, many Cambodians are even not aware of the trial preparations. There's no money and also many people do not want to be reminded. says a counselor in Siem Reap:" it only would open old wounds. People rather suffer in silence"..
« less