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A Cuban patient with paranoid schizophrenia residing in El Vedado, Havana, has been missing from his home for a month now.
The user from Facebook, Asnay Rosales, identified him only as Denis Lázaro, 34 years old.
"He's not a drifter; he's sick. Let's all help return him to his home with his mother, who is desperate," she pleaded.
According to Asnay, Denis was last seen near the Coppelia ice cream shop.
If anyone has any information about their whereabouts, they can call 52649429, 55440292, or 51002885.
The disappearances of people with psychiatric illnesses have increased in Cuba due to the lack of medications, which destabilizes these patients by preventing them from receiving the proper treatment to avoid episodes of forgetfulness and disorientation.
The vulnerability of these individuals heightens the concern of their families, who turn to digital platforms to seek assistance due to the inefficiency of the authorities and the lack of an official channel to aid in the search.
At the end of January, an activist from Santiago de Cuba reported the terrible situation of a 63-year-old woman and her 21-year-old son, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, who was in crisis due to the lack of his medication: carbamazepine, Benadryl (diphenhydramine), and diazepam.
Mother and son live in the Jiménez neighborhood, "in the most absolute misery one can imagine, in abject conditions," according to Yasser Sosa Tamayo.
"They each receive a checkbook that together doesn't amount to 2,500 pesos; it doesn't provide enough money for food, let alone to buy the son's medication," he noted.
In March of last year, feminist organizations raised an alert regarding the disappearance in Havana of young Nabetsy Jiménez Limonta since the previous month in El Cotorro.
The woman, known as Nani, suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and is being treated with olanzapine (10 mg), which she was not taking due to a shortage of the medication in the country.
Frequently asked questions about the disappearance of individuals with mental illnesses in Cuba
Why are the disappearances of people with psychiatric illnesses increasing in Cuba?
The disappearances of individuals with psychiatric illnesses have increased in Cuba due to the lack of medication that destabilizes these patients. The shortage of appropriate treatments leads to episodes of disorientation and forgetfulness, increasing the vulnerability of these individuals and the worry of their families.
What medications are necessary to treat schizophrenia in Cuba and why are they difficult to obtain?
The necessary medications to treat schizophrenia include Carbamazepine, Olanzapine, Benadryl (diphenhydramine), and Diazepam, among others. These medicines are hard to obtain due to shortages in pharmacies in Cuba. The lack of these drugs complicates the treatment of patients, increasing their risk of experiencing acute episodes.
How are Cuban families organizing themselves to search for their missing loved ones?
Cuban families primarily turn to social media to seek help and visibility in the search for their missing loved ones. Given the inefficiency of the authorities and the lack of an official state channel for these cases, social networks have become a crucial resource for mobilizing the community and sharing information.
What impact does the economic crisis have on the situation of psychiatric patients in Cuba?
The economic crisis in Cuba has worsened the situation for psychiatric patients by limiting access to essential medications and other basic resources. The scarcity of food, essential products, and transportation issues, along with the consumption of drugs and alcohol, have contributed to the deterioration of mental health in the country. This has increased the difficulty for patients to maintain their stability and safety.
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