9th March 2013
Dr Daniel Fung
President , SAMH
CC: Health Minister
CEO, HPB
Dear Dr Daniel Fung,
Talks
organized by SAMH on mental illness
Reference the above matter.
As you are probably
aware, I am a volunteer with Silver Ribbon Singapore (SRS), SAMH &
IMH. I have been giving talks at SRS and IMH to members of the public,
including schools and polytechnics at IMH and at SRS platforms. My talks
focus on caring for my wife Doris for more than 3 decades. I share valuable
tips on caring for a loved one with mental illness- in my case 37 years of it.
With my wealth of
experience I have motivated, encouraged and inspired many to lead more
meaningful lives. My wife who has been coping with schizophrenia for 40 years
is today, an author of 7 books. How many patients have achieved that here in
Singapore? Myself, I’m an author of 17 books and although I suffered from
depression in 1995, I turned my whole life around.
I have saved lives by
counselling people on my Facebook who were sure suicide cases, and I can prove
it. I want to do more.
I have glowing
testimonies that were routed to IMH. During one of my talks to 60 undergrads
studying psychology in a university in the Philippines, the lecturers were so impressed
that they have invited to me visit the Philippines next year during world
Mental Health Day to speak to their citizens.
I have shared my talks
at Hougang care Centre a few years ago when Dr Sally Thio was heading the
centre. Yet her newly set up organization – Caregiver Alliance Ltd (CAL)
also does not see value in my talks.
The Health Promotion
Board is inviting me to give talks on depression soon. I have accepted.
Yet, despite my
untiring efforts to save lives, SAMH refuses to rope me in for such talks. An
ASEAN country recognizes my expertise, but NOT SAMH & CAL.
I want to know why all
this is happening? I hope that I’m not being discriminated against in
anyway. Show me that you are fair in your dealings with volunteers.
I have repeatedly
requested SAMH to invite me for talks, but they do not value my services.
I informed Ex. Director K. Rajeswari & Ms Helen Yong about this, but I get
lots of excuses.
On 16th
March 2013, through an advertisement in The New Paper on Sat 9th
March 2013, SAMH has invited other caregivers to share their caregiving
journey.
Can these mental healthcare
providers stop cherry-picking? We need to save & reclaims lives.
Why I am being
conveniently left out by SAMH and CAL?
If SAMH & CAL does not value my services, experience and expertise, so be
it. I have ways to bring this matter up.
Our mental healthcare
system can be pleasantly enhanced if mental health care providers value the
services of dedicated volunteers who are prepared to give their time in spite
of the fact that they have heavy caregiving responsibilities – as my case.
I appreciate a reply
& I hope something positive will come out of this episode.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Raymond Anthony
Fernando
Model Caregiver 2010
& Mental Health Champion 2010
Footnote: Dr Fung, I want you to know that in 2003 during the SARS outbreak,
when my wife was seriously ill in IMH, I wrote to K Rajeswari, Ex. Director at
SAMH telling her about my wife. SAMH is supposed to look into the welfare
of caregivers. And I was crying out for help! This is what the ED
told me: “Dear Raymond, sorry to hear about your wife. Please take care
of yourself. “
End of story!!! Never heard from SAMH after that.
You call this support?
Eventually when I visited IMH and saw my wife’s slow
recovery, I had to go through immense suffering. I couldn’t cry in front of
my dear Doris, because her recovery would be slow, so I bottled up the pain
inside of me, and the moment I was at the bus stop outside IMH, I burst out
crying. It did not matter to me who saw or made fun of me. I needed to
release the tremendous pain inside my heart.
So I suffered all alone for 2 solid months and went
again into depression. My wife’s full recovery took 9 months. At IMH, a
nurse manger told me if I needed medication. I told her Idon’t need medication. I
just needed someone to walk with me during that difficult period, and that
popping pills is certainly not the solution.
Caregivers need respite care. I have raised this matter
several times. I asked a staff nurse at IMH if they have respite care for
caregivers. She replied , "Yes, we have. Put your wife to stay in IMH, and you
can go for a holiday.”
So I go and enjoy myself , while my wife lies in a mental
hospital. To me, that’s not respite care. That’s abandonment. Respite care
is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.
It’s about time that everyone wakes up to the
realities of mental illness.
Thank you.
Raymond Anthony Fernando
Good that management is receptive to feedback. Hope something positive comes out of this. Everyone must have equal opportunities and make contributions for the well being of our citizens, especially if they want to save & reclaim lives.
Dear
Raymond
Thank
you for your helpful feedback and congratulations on your opportunities to help
destigmatise mental illness and inspire caregivers. I am sure we can find
opportunities for your contribution within the work of SAMH. After all, we are
all concerned with improving the lives and mental health of the people in our
community. I have copied this email to Ms Rajeswari and Mr James Wong to look
into this matter.
Warmest
regards
Dr Daniel Fung
Chairman
Medical Board
Institute
of Mental Health
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