TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1984
AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER'S BILL, STANDARD CHARTERED ASIA LIMITED 1984, WILL ALSO BE MOVED AND READ A SECOND TIME AT TOMORROW'S ETING.
THE EIGHT QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS DEAL WITH SUCH MATTERS AS REPRESENTATIONS TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE, THE POLICY REGARDING THE RIGHT OF ABODE, AND THE USE OF ROADS BY HEAVY LORRIES AND OVER-SIZED VEHICLES.
FUNCTIONS OF HALF-WAY HOUSES EXPLAINED
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HALF-WAY HOUSES WERE FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS +THE FIRST STEPPING-STONE OR BRIDGE BACK TO FULL INTEGRATION INTO A NORMAL WORKING AND SOCIAL LIFE+, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TONIGHT (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT A DINNER MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF KOWLOON CENTRAL, HE SAID: INCREASINGLY HALF-WAY HOUSES ARE REFERRED TO AS 'THERAPEUTIC' COMMUNITIES AND I THINK THAT THIS TERM IS MOST HELPFUL TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR FUNCTION,+
ALTHOUGH EX-MENTAL PATIENTS WERE NO LONGER ILL, HE SAID, THEY STILL NEEDED THERAPY TO HELP THEM TO RE-ESTABLISH THE IR SELF- CONFIDENCE, INDEPENDENCE AND ENTHUSIASM FOR LIFE.
THIS THERAPY WAS PROVIDED IN A NUMBER OF WAYS: THROUGH INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELLING BY STAFF IN THE HALF-WAY HOUSE, BY HELPING THE EX-PATIENT TO FIND AND SETTLE INTO A SUITABLE JOB, AND BY HELPING HIM TO BECOME AT EASE IN THE NORMAL TASKS OF DAILY LIVING.
MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT AT THE CRITICAL STAGE WHEN AN EX- MENTAL PATIENT RETURNED HOME FROM HOSPITAL AND NEEDED TO REGAIN SELF-CONFIDENCE, IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT HE SHOULD RECEIVE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO FACE LIFE SQUARELY ONCE AGAIN.
+ IDEALLY, DISCHARGED MENTAL PATIENTS SHOULD RECEIVE THIS
SUPPORT FROM THOSE NEAREST AND DEAREST TO THEM.
+UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE; EITHER BECAUSE
A RETURN TO THEIR OWN HOMES COULD WELL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE EXPOSURE TO THE STRESS AND UNHAPPINESS WHICH CAUSED THE MENTAL BREAKDOWN IN THE FIRST PLACE; OR BECAUSE THERE ARE NO FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE ABLE OR WILLING TO HELP, HE SAID.
THIS WAS WHERE THE HALF-WAY HOUSE PLAYED SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE, HE ADDED.
IT PROVIDED SHELTER, REGULAR MEALS AND THE SECURITY OF AN ORDERED LIVING ENVIRONMENT.
/IT ALSO