RIYADH — Employees at Al-Amal Mental Health Complex complained about insects and cockroaches infesting their work environment, Al-Hayat reported. An employee said cockroaches were breeding in inmates' rooms and previous extermination attempts were ineffective. He said: “The sanitation and hygiene of the complex is very bad. “We work amidst insects and pests. “Mental health patients are neglected and the smell of our offices and rooms is terrible. “My co-workers and I are not pleased with the working conditions and we do not approve of many of the standard treatments the patients have to go through.” He added there are 400 inmates at the complex's male section and 50 inmates in the female section. “The addiction section is the most neglected and many families have complained about the complex not contacting them on a regular basis to update them about patients' progress. There have also been many complaints on the treatment program and that it is incomprehensive and ineffective.” Al-Amal Mental Health Complex spokesman Mutad Al-Harbi said the administration of the center is well aware of the issues and they are all being resolved. He said: “We do have a shortage of employees at the complex limiting our services and treatment programs. As for the insects and hygiene, we have parks in the complex and we regularly maintain them by spraying pesticides and contracting with a number of health and maintenance companies.” He said the complex has a number of specialized psychiatrists and religious scholars working with addicts so they would be able to function in society. “The programs we follow are internationally approved. People have complained to us that our methods are not always effective but the main problem the complex faces is a lack of employees and experts to implement these programs properly.”
