XN000022-1986-09-17 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1986

IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT STRESSED

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IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE USE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION SERVICES, ACTING DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR STEPHEN LAW, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE WAS ADDRESSING THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE NEW LIFE PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE.

HE NOTED THAT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALMOST EVERY TYPE OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICE, THERE WAS A TENDENCY TO MAKE USE OF THE FUNCTIONS AND CAPACITY OF THE COMMUNITY.

+AS FOR PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION, BECAUSE OF TRADITIONAL ATTITUDES, THE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE ASPECT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IS GREATER, SO AS TO PROVIDE EX-MENTAL PATIENTS WITH BETTER CHANCES TO LEAD AN INDEPENDENT, HEALTHY AND HAPPY LIFE, HE SAID.

MR LAW SAID HE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS ONLY NATURAL FOR A PERSON

TO RETURN TO HIS COMMUNITY AND FAMILY FOR SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE WHEN HE CAME ACROSS DIFFICULTIES AND NEEDED HELP.

THE ASSISTANCE OFFERED BY PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS IS

LIMITED, HE SAID.

+THE RESOURCES AND MOTIVATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE HELP AND CO-OPERATION OF VARIOUS SECTORS HAVE TO BE MADE USE OF TO GET AN ALL ROUND EFFECT,+ HE ADDED.

MR LAW SAID THAT PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION SERVICE WAS AFFECTED BY TRADITIONAL ATTITUDES AND INADEQUATE UNDERSTANDING OF THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE EX-MENTAL PATIENTS AND IT WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO ENLIST THE ASSISTANCE OF THE COMMUNITY.

+ IN ORDER TO ATTAIN BETTER RESULTS, THE STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMUNITY AND ITS CONDITIONS HAVE TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION IN THE EXECUTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SERVICE, HE SAID.

MR LAW SAID THAT THE NEW LIFE PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION HAD DONE MUCH IN THIS RESPECT.

+BESIDES HAVING A LOT OF PROGRESS IN GETTING THE UNDERSTANDING AND THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, THE ASSOCIATION PLANS TO PUT MORE EFFORT IN EDUCATING THE PUBLIC SO THAT THE EX-MENTAL PATIENTS CAN WORK AND LIVE IN A NORMAL ENVIRONMENT WITH COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE.

+THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL TRY ITS BEST TO WORK WITH THE ASSOCIATION IN PROMOTING THIS, HE SAID.

+THE EXPERIENCE GAINED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS HAS GIVEN US A LOT OF ENLIGHTENMENT AND WE DRAW MANY LESSONS FROM IT.

/+WE SHOULD