SATURDAY, MAY 24, 1986
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EDUCATION HELPING TO END MENTAL HEALTH PREJUDICE
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MUCH HAS BEN DONE IN RECENT YEARS TO BREAK DOWN THE BARRIERS AND PREJUDICE THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT UP AGAINST THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM MENTAL ILLNESS, LADY YOUDE SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION CAMPAIGN, ORGANISED BY THE JOINT COUNCIL FOR THE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DISABLED (REHABILITATION DIVISION, HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE), LADY YOUDE SAID SUCH PREJUDICES AROSE LARGELY FROM A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING.
SHE NOTED THAT MANY OF THOSE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL DISORDER WOULD BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY AFTER MEDICAL TREATMENT AND SOCIAL REHABILITATION AND LEAD NORMAL LIVES.
+ THE TASK THAT FACES US ALL IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC TO A MORE CARING AND UNDERSTANDING ATTITUDE.+
LADY YOUDE COMMENDED GOVERNMENT BODIES, DISTRICT BOARDS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FOR ORGANISING CONFERENCES, SEMINARS AND EXHIBITIONS TO INCREASE SUCH UNDERSTANDING.
+ BUT WE MUST CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS OF CREATING
A MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS MENTAL ILLNESS, + SHE SAID.
THE CAMPAIGN, SHE ADDED, WAS AIME AT PROMOTING SUCH AN ATTITUDE AND TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE SERVICES THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO THE MENTALLY ILL, TO RECUPERATING PATIENTS AND TO THEIR FAMILIES.
LADY YOUDE SAID IT WOULD BRING HOME TO THOSE WHO
SAW THE EXHIBITIONS OR WHO HEARD ABOUT THEM THROUGH THE MEDIA - THE FACT THAT MENTAL ILLNESS WAS NOT JUST A PROBLEM FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SUFFERERS OR FOR THEIR FAMILIES. +IT SHOULD BE A COMMUNITY CONCERN, AND WE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY.+
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