My letter to the
press on the above matter is published today – Monday 9th May 2016
Sometimes, people who are depressed feel that they are
unable to cope with life’s challenges, but do not seek help.
Instead, they end up trying to harm themselves as they
mistakenly believe that ending their life is the only way out of their
problems.
This seems to have been what happened to a 42-year-old man
who threatened to jump down from a ninth storey flat in Serangoon North (“Man
locks himself in flat, threatens to jump”; The New Paper, April 28).
When depressed people attempt suicide to end their lives,
resources get stretched. Besides The Singapore Civil Defence Force and the
police having to move in swiftly, the hospital where the suspect gets warded
and the courts will also see an increased workload.
A Peer Specialist scheme to help persons trying to cope
with depression and other forms of mental illnesses is now in place at the Institute
of Mental Health, the Singapore Association for Mental Health and Club
Heal.
I propose that such a Peer Specialist scheme be introduced
in housing estates, to help bring down the number of suicides and suicide
attempts.
These Peer Specialists can also act as mediation officers
to handle disputes among neighbours and, with proper training, can make the
neighbourhood more pleasant.
This task will be ideal for seniors who have healthy
experiences in mental health and relationship issues and with more time on
their hands.
RAYMOND ANTHONY
FERNANDO
No comments:
Post a Comment