It is heartening that the Health Ministry will be building more community support networks so that those who require mental health care are given all the help they need.
As there is still much ignorance of mental health issues and, worse, patients and their families could be in denial of their mental illness due to social stigma, every effort must be made to reach out to these marginalised citizens.
To this end, I hope that grassroots leaders who have received basic mental health training make periodic home visits. They should be able to spot warning signs that may surface among residents.
I have the utmost respect for grassroots leaders who go the extra mile to help families grappling with these issues. One who has gotten people the mental health support they need is Mr Mohamed Nasim Abdul Rahim, from Jalan Kayu.
Through the support of voluntary welfare organisation Club HEAL, I have trained his volunteers on real-life experiences, citing my late wife’s battle with schizophrenia, and he has been enthusiastic about these issues.
If grassroots leaders adopt this strategy island-wide, I am confident that mental illness can be managed better, with more neighbours living harmoniously together.
As there is still much ignorance of mental health issues and, worse, patients and their families could be in denial of their mental illness due to social stigma, every effort must be made to reach out to these marginalised citizens.
To this end, I hope that grassroots leaders who have received basic mental health training make periodic home visits. They should be able to spot warning signs that may surface among residents.
I have the utmost respect for grassroots leaders who go the extra mile to help families grappling with these issues. One who has gotten people the mental health support they need is Mr Mohamed Nasim Abdul Rahim, from Jalan Kayu.
Through the support of voluntary welfare organisation Club HEAL, I have trained his volunteers on real-life experiences, citing my late wife’s battle with schizophrenia, and he has been enthusiastic about these issues.
If grassroots leaders adopt this strategy island-wide, I am confident that mental illness can be managed better, with more neighbours living harmoniously together.
