XN000022-1984-11-08 — Page 28

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1984

FAIR DEAL FOR EX-MENTALLY ILL URGED

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EX-MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE WERE IN NEED OF A FAIR DEAL+

FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION'S KWUN TONG SHELTERED WORKSHOP, HE SAID A HALF-WAY HOUSE WAS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF PROVIDING A SUPPORTING TRANSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT TO HELP THEM RE-INTEGRATE INTO THE COMMUNITY.

+THE SUCCESS OF THIS REHABILITATION PROCESS DEPENDS VERY MUCH ON THE COMMUNITY'S UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND ITS ACCEPTANCE AND SUPPORT OF THE EX-MENTALLY ILL, HE SAID.

MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT EXPERIENCE HERE AND OVERSEAS HAD CONFIRMED THAT BOTH HALF-WAY HOUSES AND SHELTERED WORKSHOPS WERE ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR MANY OF THOSE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS.

WITHOUT THESE, THE RISK OF RELAPSE AFTER THEIR DISCHARGE FROM HOSPITAL WOULD BE MUCH GREATER, HE SAID.

THE WORKSHOP PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR 100 EX- MENTALLY ILL AND MENTALLY HANDICAPPED WORKERS WHO ARE TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY UNABLE TO COMPETE IN THE OPEN LABOUR MARKET.

+THE ULTIMATE GOAL, HE SAID, IS TO ENABLE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE OF THE WORKERS TO MOVE ON TO OPEN EMPLOYMENT AFTER A PERIOD OF WORK ADJUSTMENT, ORIENTATION AND PREPARATION IN THE WORKSHOP.+

THE WORKSHOP, LOCATED IN KWUN TONG ESTATE, TSUI PING ROAD, BEGAN OPERATION IN FEBRUARY AND SIX WORKERS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY TAKEN UP OPEN EMPLOYMENT.

+CASES LIKE THESE PROVIDE EXCELLENT EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION OF THE EX-MENTALLY ILL AND THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ENABLING THEM TO BECOME SELF-RELIANT AND PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

THE LOTTERIES FUND HAD ALLOCATED OVER $925 000 TO MEET THE CAPITAL COST OF THIS SHELTERED WORKSHOP AND THE GOVERNMENT ALSO GRANTED SUBVENTION TOTALLING MORE THAN $837 000 TOWARDS ITS EXPENDITURE IN THE CURRENT YEAR.

MR CHAMBERS PAID TRIBUTE TO THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION FOR ITS NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS AND THE STERLING EFFORTS OF ITS MEMBERS AND STAFF.

THIS SHELTERED WORKSHOP WAS AN INVALUABLE ADDITION TO THE ASSOCIATION'S ACTIVITIES AND MARKED ANOTHER MILESTONE IN ITS RECORD OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICES, HE SAID.

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