Malades mentaux errants dans le district d’Abidjan : Approche criminologique d’un phénomène relativement bien maîtrisé

Many studies and social interventions have been largely circumscribed around dyssocial marginalities (juvenile delinquency, young people and street culture, urban violence, violence in the transport environment). However, they all remain relatively or totally silent when it comes to analyzing, on the one hand, the condition of the mentally ill wandering in public spaces and, on the other, the interactions between them and the so-called normal members. This article aims to know successively the socio-demographic characteristics of wandering mental patients, the criminal acts committed or suffered and the social reactions towards them. It is based on a field survey conducted through the thirteen (13) communes of the district of Abidjan. The participants in the study are 203 in number. They were chosen using the non-probabilistic method and by reasoned choice. The collection of information was done by means of a documentary study, semi-structured interviews and direct observations. The mixed analysis (quantitative and qualitative) of the data collected led to a triple result: In the first case, it appears that the wandering mental patients are individuals of male or female sex, coming from all the communes of the district of Abidjan with a high propensity in Bingerville, Abobo, Adjamé, Yopougon and Anyama. In the second case, verbal abuse, armed assault, intentional assault and battery, drug trafficking and murder constitute the criminal acts committed by the mentally ill. Moreover, it appears that the latter are victims of sexual abuse (especially women), ritual crimes and accidents. Finally, indifference, pity, fear, aggression and anger are all reactions shown towards them. Intervention at three levels (political, economic and social) is necessary to curb the phenomenon of wandering mental patients in the district of Abidjan.