XN000022-1974-06-14 — Page 8

FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 1974

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INCREASING NUMBER OF MENTAL PATIENTS

DR CHOA ASKS MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION TO FIND REASONS

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DR GERALD CHOA, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, SAID TONIGHT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF PATIENTS THE DEPARTMENT WAS HAVING TO DEAL WITH MEANT THAT THE INCIDENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS WAS RISING IN HONG KONG.

HE WAS SPEAKING AS PRESIDENT OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION AT ITS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING IN THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB

HIS LAST SUCH PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS, BECAUSE HE FELT AS HE HAD BEEN PRESIDENT SINCE 1968, +THE MANTLE SHOULD BE GIVEN TO SOMEONE ELSE.+

DR CHOA SAID WITH THIS PROGRESSIVE INCREASE IN THE INCIDENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS, THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAD MADE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE, INCLUDING THE PSYCHIATRIC WING OF THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL IN LAI CHI KOK, AND A THIRD MENTAL HOSPITAL THE FIRST BEING THE CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL ON HONG

KONG ISLAND, WITH A MINIMUM OF 1,000 BEDS.

THERE WERE, IN ADDITION, PLANS FOR A NUMBER OF +DAY BEDS+ IN NEW CLINICS WHICH COULD BE USED FOR BOTH PSYCHIATRIC AND GERIATRIC PATIENTS.

WITH REGARD TO THE PROPOSED 1,000 BED MENTAL HOSPITAL ON HONG KONG ISLAND, DR CHOA SAID EXPERTS IN THE FIELD OF PSYCHIATRY HAD ADVISED THAT PERHAPS SUCH A HOSPITAL WOULD BE TOO LARGE, BECAUSE THE NODERN TENDENCY WAS TO THINK IN TERMS OF SMALLER MENTAL HOSPITALS.

+THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL CERTAINLY CONSIDER THIS VIEW SYMPATHETICALLY, HE COMMENTED, AND IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT THE 1,000 BEDS WILL BE SPREAD OUT IN DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS INSTEAD OF CONCENTRATED IN ONE.+

HE REGRETTED THAT WHILE NO FURTHER EXPANSION OF THE SIU LAM HOSPITAL FOR THE SEVERE GRADE OF MENTALLY-RETARDED CHILDREN WAS FEASIBLE, THERE WOULD BE AT LEAST 300 MORE BEDS FOR SUCH UNFORTUNATE CHILDREN, AND HE HOPED THE BEDS WOULD BE PROVIDED IN THE NEW WING NOW BEING PLANNED FOR THE CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE.

DR CHOA SAID WHILE IT WAS EASY TO CONFIRM THE QUESTION FREQUENTLY ASKED AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE INCIDENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS WAS RISING, THE SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION AS TO THE REASONS WHY THIS WAS SO WAS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO REPLY TO.

HE PROPOSED THAT THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION SHOULD ATTEMPT TO PROBE THE CAUSE.

HE HOPED THE ASSOCIATION WOULD HOLD ANOTHER MENTAL HEALTH WEEK TO +ROUSE PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE PREVENTIVE ASPECT OF MENTAL ILLNESS, + AND TO ORGANISE SEMINARS FROM TIME TO TIME SO THAT PEOPLE WHO HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM, OR WHO HAD GIVEN IT CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS.

+I GIVE YOU THIS SUGGESTION AS MY PARTING GIFT,+ DR CHOA TOLD THE ANNUAL MEETING. IT MEANS WORK, BUT IT IS ALSO A CHALLENGE. KNOWING FULL WELL YOUR INTEREST AND DEDICATION. IN FURTHERING THE CAUSE OF MENTAL HEALTH, I HOPE YOU WILL PICK UP THE GAUNTLET.+

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