XN000022-1985-09-27 — Page 15

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27.

THE CENTRES WOULD BE STAFFED TO ENSURE THAT ALL RESIDENT RECEIVED INTENSIVE CARE AND TOOK PART IN THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMM DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY.

+ THE TEAM SHOULD INCLUDE SOCIAL WORKERS WITH POST-GRADUAT TRAINING IN PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORK, WELFARE WORKERS, PSYCHIAT NURSES AND THE NECESSARY SUPPORTING STAFF.

+THE CENTRE WILL MAINTAIN A CLOSE LINK WITH THE MEDICAL HEALTH SERVICE TO ENSURE THAT PROMPT PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT IS PROVIDED WHEN REQUIRED, + SHE SAID.

COMMENTING ON THE CARE PROVIDED FOR THE MENTALLY ILL, MRS CHAN SAID THE PRESENT TREND WAS MOVING AWAY FROM HOSPITAL OR INSTITUTIONAL CARE TO A COMMUNITY CARE APPROACH.

THIS TREND OWED MUCH TO THE REALISATION THAT PROLONGED HOSPITAL ISATION CAUSED THE PATIENT TO LOSE TOUCH WITH SOCIETY AND HIS FAMILY AND TO BECOME WITHDRAWN, APATHETIC AND RESIGNED.

MRS CHAN SAID SHE SAW THIS COMMUNITY-CENTRED APPROACH IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MENTALLY ILL AS A MAJOR AREA FOR SOCIAL WORK EXPANSION IN THE COMING YEARS.

+TO THE SOCIAL WORKERS, THE MAIN VALUE OF COMMUNITY CARE LIES PERHAPS IN THE FACT THAT THIS APPROACH ALLOWS A TREATNES PLAN THAT IS GEARED TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S NEEDS, A PLAN IN WHIT THE CLIENT CAN PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY AND WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL ENABLE HIM TO TAKE CHARGE OF HIS OWN LIFE AND TO STAY UNITED WITH HIS FAMILY, SHE SAID.

HOWEVER, SHE CAUTIONED AGAINST TOO SUDDEN A MOVE FROM ON TO THE OTHER SINCE SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY CARE INVOLVED CAREFUL CO-ORDINATION OF SERVICES, DEVELOPMENT OF SUITABLE AND ADEQUE COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES AND RESOURCES, AND ACCEPTING ATTITUDES THE PART OF SERVICE PROVIDERS AND THE PUBLIC.

IF THESE WERE NOT RESOLVED, THERE WAS A RISK OF A MENT ILL PERSON BECOMING A SO-CALLED +REVOLVING-DOOR+ CLIENT WHO HOSPITAL, ONLY TO RETURN TO THAT VERY SETTING WITHIN A SHORT. PERIOD OF TIME.

A MENTALLY ILL PERSON WHOSE CONDITION HAD STABILISED AND WAS PREPARING TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY HAD MANY NEEDS, INCLUDING FINANCES, HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, SOCIAL AND LIVING SKILLS AND JOBS.

SPEAKING OF THE HOUSING NEEDS OF THIS GROUP, MRS CHAN SAID THE IDEAL SITUATION WAS TO ENCOURAGE FAMILY MEMBERS TO ACCEPT AN EX-MENTAL PATIENT BACK INTO THE HOME.

BUT FOR THOSE WHOSE FAMILIES WERE UNWILLING OR UNPREPARED TO TAKE THEM BACK. SOME FORM OF SHELTERED HOUSING WAS ESSENTIAL TO ALLOW THE EX-MENTALLY ILL TO READJUST TO SOCIETY AND TO GIVE THE SOCIAL WORKERS TIME TO WORK WITH THE FAMILY.

AS CELE