It is troubling to read
reports of how a couple had systematically abused and caused grievous hurt to
26-year-old Annie Ee Yu Lian for
8 months, which eventually led
to her death (“14, 16.5
years’ jail for couple who tortured tenant to death”, December 1, 2017, MediaCorp’s TODAY Newspaper).
Ee had borderline intelligence and the couple knew
about her condition.
The vulnerable in our society who include those with
mental illness need far better protection and support.
To this end, I would like to propose some suggestions
to help improve the structural support for this marginalised group.
Appoint
Estate
Mental Health Ambassadors (EMHA) to serve in the respective estates.
♦
Firstly, I propose we train suitable people in the neighbourhoods on mental
illness by well-established mental health providers who could include
professionals from the Institute of Mental Health, Silver Ribbon Singapore and
the Singapore Association for Mental Health.
After they are trained, they can be appointed as Estate Mental Health
Ambassadors (EMHA) to serve in the respective estates.
These trained EMHAs whose contact numbers can be
given on HDB notice boards, community clubs and on a given website can be
contacted to help anyone grappling with mental illness.
It
must be made abundantly clear to both the EMHAs and the person/s being helped
that patient confidentially will be respected at all times.
As it
is difficult to secure volunteers, an allowance can be given to the EMHAs
for their time, efforts, meals and paper work every time they handle a case.
The funds can come from the community clubs and all cases must be handled with
privacy and confidentially on the person being helped. Once a case has been handled professionally,
the EMHA submits a simple report to the grassroots leader to make a claim. Such allowances can also come from any
charity or organisation that supports mental health.
Vital to ensure psychiatric
patients don’t default on their medical appointments /medications
♦ Secondly,
mental health providers need to ensure that those with mental health issues
keep to their medical appointments and counselling. For example, the Community Psychiatry
Department of the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) must constantly keep in
touch with patients so that they do not default on their treatments and
medications. If need be, part-timers
with some basic knowledge of mental illness can be hired by IMH, with funds
provided by the Health Ministry.
Collaborations
(a)Tie-ups between HDB, MSF and MPs/Mayors
♦ Whenever a
registered flat owner takes in a tenant, it is compulsory that the HDB is
informed. Therefore, my third proposal is that both the HDB and the Ministry of
Social and Family Development (MSF) are kept duly posted when the flat owner
rents out a room to anyone with any vulnerable condition. In doing so, the
tenant with special needs can be closely monitored by MSF, and abuse can be
prevented. The respective Member of
Parliament (MP) and Mayor can be kept informed.
(b) MPs and
Mayors need to stay connected to residents
♦ Last, but not
least, it is important for Members of Parliament, Mayors and their grassroots
leaders to stay in touch with the residents so that they are in a good position
to understand sentiments on the ground. They can do this either through
quarterly home visits or tea or breakfast sessions at the nearest void decks
where the residents live. This is also
an opportune time for the elected officials to get to know the residents better
– and to explain government policies and directions, if any.
RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO
1 comment:
Well-written and great ideas, Ray. I hope the government will seriously consider and implement.
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