WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1981
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MR ALLEYNE SAID THAT COUNSELLING AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE MENTALLY DISTURBED WAS +OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE+.
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD SENT OFFICERS TO ATTEND SPECIALIST COURSES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ON PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORK.
HALF-WAY HOUSES AND SHELTERED WORKSHOPS WERE VITAL TO HELP PERSONS RECENTLY DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL TO RE-ESTABLISH A STABLE PATTERN OF LIFE BY PROVIDING BOARD, MEALS, SOCIAL-WORK COUNSELLING AND MUTUAL SUPPORT.
THERE WAS A NEED FOR SOME 1 000 PLACES IN HALF-WAY HOUSES, MR ALLEYNE SAID. AT PRESENT THERE ARE ONLY 172.
*THE SUPPORT OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IS THEREFORE DESPERATELY NEEDED IF WE ARE TO ACHIEVE OUR OBJECTIVE OF INCREASING PROVISION BY 150 PLACES PER YEAR, HE SAID.
SHELTERED WORKSHOPS PERFORM A SIMILAR FUNCTION TO HALF-WAY HOUSES FOR THOSE WHO REQUIRE TIME TO ADJUST TO THE IDEA OF RETURN TO A NORMAL WORK ING ENVIRONMENT.
+FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO GO BACK TO WORK, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFFER A JOB PLACEMENT SERVICE, + MR ALLEYNE SAID.
+IN DUE COURSE, THIS SERVICE WILL BE TAKEN OVER BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WHO WILL BE IN A POSITION TO OFFER A MUCH WIDER RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO HANDICAPPED PEOPLE.+
HE SAID SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES MUST ALSO SEEK TO RE-INTEGRATE EX-MENTAL PATIENTS FULLY INTO SOCIETY AND TO HELP THEM RE-ESTABLISH SOCIAL CONTACTS AND SELF-CONFIDENCE. HERE SOCIAL CLUBS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE.
MR ALLEYNE SAID THAT FOR SOME CHRONICALLY DISABLED, EARLY DISCHARGE FROM A RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTION WAS NOT POSSIBLE.
FOR MANY REASONS, IT WAS UNDESIRABLE THAT SUCH PEOPLE SHOULD REMAIN INDEF INITELY IN HOSPITAL NOT LEAST THE NEED TO RELIEVE THE OVERCROWDING IN PSYCHIATRIC WARDS. AS AN ALTERNATIVE, THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO DEVELOP RESIDENTIAL HOMES CATERING TO LONG-STAY CASES OF THIS SORT.
ONE SUCH HOME IS ALREADY PLANNED FOR 200 PEOPLE AND WILL BE RUN BY A VOLUNTARY AGENCY IN TUEN MUN.
+MY DEPARTMENT IS ALSO PLANNING TO PLAY A DIRECT ROLE IN THE PROVISION OF SUCH SERVICES,+ MR ALLEYNE SAID. OUR PRESENT ESTIMATES SUGGEST A NEED FOR 500-600 PLACES IN SUCH HOMES HOWEVER, AND, ONCE AGAIN, I HOPE IT WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP TO MEET THIS NEED.+
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