XN000022-1988-09-15 — Page 5

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1988

AT THE SAME TIME, SHE RECOGNISED THAT IN REALITY, REHABILITATION OF THE MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED HAD BECOME MORE DIFFICULT WITH THE EMERGENCE OF THE CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY CARE.

WHILE EXPRESSING UNDERSTANDING OVER THE CONCERN AND ANXIETY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC TOWARDS HAVING FACILITIES FOR RECOVERED MENTAL PATIENTS IN THEIR NEIGHBOURHOOD, MRS WONG NOTED THAT THESE FACILITIES HAD PROVIDED AN EFFICIENT AND BALANCED SERVICE OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS WITHOUT UNDESIRABLE INCIDENTS.

"FOR INSTANCE, HALF-WAY HOUSES HAVE A HISTORY OF 20 YEARS IN HONG KONG AND HAVE GIVEN ASSISTANCE AND A NEW LEASE OF LIFE ΤΟ INNUMERABLE PERSONS WHO HAVE RECOVERED FROM MENTAL ILLNESS.

"

THEY BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT OF A HOSPITAL AND THE LARGER COMMUNITY BY HELPING THE RESIDENTS то MAINTAIN A STABLE FRAME OF MIND WHILE SERVING AS A TRANSITIONAL VENUE FOR RE-ADJUSTMENT TO THE NORMAL ROUTINE OF DAILY LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY," SHE SAID.

MRS WONG STRESSED THE NEED FOR CONTINUOUS PUBLIC EDUCATION ΤΟ PROMOTE BETTER UNDERSTANDING TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH.

"BETTER KNOWLEDGE WILL DISPEL THE MYTH AND ANXIETY SURROUNDING MENTAL ILLNESS AND ITS UNFORTUNATE VICTIMS, AND WILL, I AM CONVINCED, GENERATE BETTER ACCEPTANCE AND SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY." SHE SAID.

MRS WONG PRAISED THE NEW LIFE PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO ESTABLISH IN ITS NAM CHEONG CENTRE PREMISES AN INSTITUTE OF PSYCHIATRIC REHABI! 1TATION,

THIS HAD THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF PROVIDING TRAINING TO PERSONNEL IN PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION SERVICES AS WEAL AS EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIVE PROGRAMMES, TRAINING COURSES AND SEMINARS FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL ILLNESS.

"THIS IS INDEED A TIMELY INITIATIVE AND I AM SURE THAT CLIENTS, PERSONNEL AND THE COMMUNITY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE SERVICES THE INSTITUTE WILL OFFER, SHE ADDED.

"I

MRS WONG FURTHER COMMENDED THE ASSOCIATION FOR AND UNFAILING EFFORTS IN THE PROVISION OF SERVICES MENTAL PATIENTS.

ITS DEDICATION

FOR

RECOVERED

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