Every person has a need to love and be loved. But it is not customary to talk about the fact that inhabitants of a psycho-neurological institution can also have love. Ordinary people most often do not care what happens in such places. Most psycho-neurological institutions for adults contain inhabitants of the same sex. This is done in order to avoid ties between inhabitants, unwanted pregnancies and illnesses. On the other hand, we often heard from psycho-neurological institution staff that homosexual relationships between inmates in same-sex psycho-neurological institutions are not uncommon.

For two years, we, "Helpus" volunteers, have visited all psycho-neurological institutions in the Zaporizhzhia region. In our opinion, the situation in single-sex psycho-neurological institutions is much more tense than in mixed ones. Only two psycho-neurological institutions in the Zaporizhzhia region (Mikhailovsk and Preslavskay) accommodate both men and women, sometimes even in the same building.

On the one hand, mixed psycho-neurological institutions cause concern. In the case of the birth of children, it is unlikely that parents will be able to fully raise a child. On the other hand, inhabitants can have completely different diseases and levels of mental development, and it is inhumane to deprive absolutely everyone of the right to communicate with the opposite sex.

The Preslavskay psycho-neurological institution is the most advanced in terms of cohabitation of men and women. In this institution, located on the very shore of the Sea of Azov, some inhabitants have formed couples, and have been living together for several years. Separate double rooms were allocated for couples. According to the management, work is underway with such couples and no children are born to them.

On October 1, 2014, we visited Preslav and organized a small picnic for 18 residents of the psycho-neurological institution on the sea at the beginning of the Obitochnaya Spit. We were surprised at the calm, almost serene atmosphere among these people. We were especially struck by Valentin, a former Afghan, and Sasha, a former blacksmith shop master.

Valentin has a great life experience. He sings well, knows dozens of songs and is somewhat reminiscent of Boyarsky. When I asked why he was here at the psycho-neurological institution, Valentin replied: “I feel good here, I live on the seashore! I go fishing, take care of the vineyard. Nature and beauty! If my nerves give out - I will go ashore - I will shout - and I will calm down! I found a girl for myself! At the same time, smiling, he hugged his girlfriend, who is 20 years younger.

Sasha used to work at one of the Zaporizhzhia metallurgical enterprises as a foreman. It gives the impression of an intelligent person trying to organize everything. Sasha has an adult daughter in Zaporizhzhia, who graduated from the institute. I don’t know what happened and how Sasha ended up in a psycho-neurological institution, but on the whole he is satisfied with his current life, especially since he also has a chosen one.

For a couple of hours we sat by the fire, sang songs and talked to each other. We expected to see severely disabled people, but we met ordinary people who experience the same feelings and emotions as each of us. We have seen that people with mental illness also dream of finding their other half. Those who have already found a mate behave much more calmly than single inhabitants or residents of same-sex psycho-neurological institutions.

Purely male and purely female psycho-neurological institutions seem to us something abnormal. Together with the Department of Social Protection, we intend to study the issue of creating mixed psycho-neurological institutions. After all, if a person is sick or his IQ is below average, this does not mean that he does not want to love and be loved.

If any of the readers have their own thoughts or experience in creating institutions for the cohabitation of men and women with psycho-neurological disorders, please write to us - helpus@helpus.org.ua

Sincerely,

Albert Pavlov

+3 8 066 513 34 35