In the letter “Identify, help mental health patients who
lack family support” (April 21) the writer called for more support for people
with mental illness who find it difficult to secure support from their
relatives.
As a caregiver to my late wife who battled schizophrenia
for four decades, I know only too well how daunting the journey can be when
there is hardly any support both from relatives and agencies.
The harsh reality is that caregivers often make their
journey all alone. Some relatives may have their own families to take care of,
while some are reluctant to get too involved in the care, because they are
worried that if the primary caregiver passes on, they have to take over.
The upside is that if the primary caregiver has the
tenacity and perseveres, he or she will become more resilient and independent.
Many people with mental illness have an excellent chance
of recovery and can go on to lead perfectly normal lives if there is a good
support network and better understanding of mental health issues in society.
To this end, it will help if Member of Parliament Darryl
David’s proposal of mental wellness centres could go one step further by
collaborating with Residents’ Committees, government agencies and mental healthcare
providers to include motivational talks and dialogue sessions on mental health
issues to raise more awareness, which can help reduce social stigma in the
process.
Last week, I was invited by a team of undergraduates from
the National University of Singapore to share my 40 years’ experience in caring
for my wife at a dialogue session called “Handle with care: Strength in
Adversity”, along with three other speakers.
The audience was delighted with the sharing, and walked
away with a far better understanding of mental health issues. This is the
precisely the direction the proposed mental wellness centres should take so
that persons grappling with mental health issues and their caregivers can live
with dignity and renewed hope.
RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNNADO
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