My twin brother, who suffered a relapse of depression and had suicidal tendencies, was admitted last month to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH).
With the support of clinicians there, and that of IMH chief executive officer Chua Hong Choon, whom I wrote to about the challenges my brother was grappling with, he has recovered.
Indeed, Associate Professor Chua leads by example, even responding to my emails while on vacation.
Due to his excellent management, the health-care workers, who included senior nurse manager Gurbak Singh, senior social worker Tracy Wee and the other nurses of Ward 22A, also displayed much compassion.
I assure those who might fear going to the IMH, because of the stigma, that it has the best team in place to help patients manage mental illness. I am grateful to its staff for saving my brother’s life.
Family is important in helping a loved one cope with mental illness, and my sister’s love for my brother helped a lot too.
With the support of clinicians there, and that of IMH chief executive officer Chua Hong Choon, whom I wrote to about the challenges my brother was grappling with, he has recovered.
Indeed, Associate Professor Chua leads by example, even responding to my emails while on vacation.
Due to his excellent management, the health-care workers, who included senior nurse manager Gurbak Singh, senior social worker Tracy Wee and the other nurses of Ward 22A, also displayed much compassion.
I assure those who might fear going to the IMH, because of the stigma, that it has the best team in place to help patients manage mental illness. I am grateful to its staff for saving my brother’s life.
Family is important in helping a loved one cope with mental illness, and my sister’s love for my brother helped a lot too.
