Shrines, not hospitals, treat mentally ill

KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- For many Afghanis suffering from mental illness, treatment consists of spending 40 days confined to a shrine, chained to a tree or placed in a small cell.

The country's only mental hospital is in Kabul, the Chicago Tribune reports. Some hospitals have wards for the mentally ill, but mental problems have low priority in the country, even though some experts estimate that a majority of the population is suffering from mental illness.

The government has talked about closing down the shrines that claim to treat mental illness. There are others dedicated to the cure of diseases like rabies and arthritis.

The shrine at Samar Khel is run descendants of the founder, Syed Muhammad Ali Shah, who lived more than 300 years ago. Families of the patients brought there pay $200 for the 40-day treatment.

Some government officials say that the treatment benefits some patients, especially those with high blood pressure who are helped by a diet consisting of bread, pepper and water, the Tribune reports.

"Of course, from the Ministry of Public Health perspective, with so many different priorities, it is difficult to go fight these people and their shrines," said Abdullah Fahim, a spokesman.