XN000022-1982-02-27 — Page 4

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1982

CHANCE URGED FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS

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THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HALFWAY HOUSES FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS WILL DEPEND ON THE ATTITUDE OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO GIVE EX-PATIENTS A CHANCE TO INTEGRATE, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION'S NEW CHOI WAN HALFWAY HOUSE, HE SAID THAT FOR A HALFWAY HOUSE TO BE EFFECTIVE, CONCERTED EFFORTS ON THE PART OF BOTH THE IN-HOUSE STAFF AND REHABILITATION WORKERS IN THE HOSPITALS OR CLINICS WAS REQUIRED.

+THE GOVERNMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR, IS NOW REVIEWING THE STAFFING STANDARD OF HALFWAY HOUSES FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS, AND IT IS HOPED THAT FIRM RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE PUT TO THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE IN TIME FOR IMPLEMENTATION LATER THIS YEAR,+ HE SAID.

MR ALLEYNE SAID THAT THE HALFWAY HOUSE WAS INTENDED TO PROVIDE SHORT-TERM ACCOMMODATION FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS WHO HAD NO HOMES OR COULD NOT, FOR SOME REASON, RETURN TO LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

+MORE SPECIFICALLY, HE WENT ON, THE AIM OF THIS FORM OF CARE IS TO HELP PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE A REASONABLY STABLE PATTERN OF LIFE AND TO DEVELOP THE CAPACITY TO COPE WITH THE VARIOUS PRESSURES OF DAILY LIVING.

+ IT SHOULD SERVE AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN HOSPITAL AND COMMUNITY LIFE SO THAT EX-PATIENTS CAN GRADUALLY REACH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF FUNCTIONING THAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF ATTAINING. +

WITH THE PROVISION OF BOARD AND LODGING AND SOCIAL WORK COUNSELLING, MR ALLEYNE SAID, THE HALFWAY HOUSE OFFERS THE RESIDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ORGANISE THEIR DAILY LIFE UNDER SUPERVISION

AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF FELLOW RESIDENTS.

THE CHOI WAN HALFWAY HOUSE HAS CAPACITY FOR 30 EX-PATIENTS.

A GRANT OF $273 000 WAS MADE FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND TO MEET THE RENOVATION AND FITTING-OUT EXPENSES.

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