XN000022-1988-12-03 — Page 2

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1988

CALL FOR PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING IN REHABILITATION

THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE. MR T.H. CHAU, THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING CALLED FOR GREATER ACCEPTANCE OF RECOVERED MENTAL PATIENTS BY THE COMMUNITY.

MR CHAU SAID THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE IN THE BE MEDICAL AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES FOR THE MENTALLY ILL WOULD GREATLY UNDERMINED WITHOUT THE CARE, SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING FOR THESE PATIENTS BY THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

1988

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF MENTAL HEALTH WEEK

ASSOCIATION OF ORGANISED BY THE MENTAL HEALTH

HONG

MR KONG,

CHAU WAS OFTEN BASED POINTED OUT THAT PREJUDICE AGAINST THE MENTALLY ILL ON A MISCONCEPTION ABOUT UNPREDICTABLE AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR.

IS

THEREBY A NORMAL

"SUCH A MISCONCEPTION IS GROSSLY UNFORTUNATE FOR ITS EFFECT TO REJECT THOSE WHO HAVE RECOVERED FROM MENTAL ILLNESS.

ΤΟ HINDERING THEIR REHABILITATION, MAKING THEIR ADJUSTMENT LIFE MORE DIFFICULT, AND INCREASING THE CHANCES OF RELAPSE," HE SAID.

HE CITED AS EXAMPLES THE REJECTION OF THE EX-MENTALLY ILL FROM EMPLOYMENT AND THE OPPOSITION TO THE HALF-WAY HOUSE BUILDING PROGRAMME.

HOWEVER, MR CHAU NOTED THAT PUBLIC ATTITUDES HAD BERN

PUBLIC

EDUCATION EFFORTS MADE

IMPROVING WITH ALL THE PUBLICITY AND JOINTLY BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.

THESE EFFORTS WOULD BE SUSTAINED TO ACHIEVE BETTER ACCEPTANCE OF RECOVERED PATIENTS BY THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

MEDICAL

PROVIDING

THE

PROGRAMMES

IN

THE

MR CHAU SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS COMMITTED ΤΟ NECESSARY SERVICES UNDER THE

AND REHABILITATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF THE MENTALLY ILL AND THEIR REINTEGRATION COMMUNITY.

**THESE SERVICES ARE REGULARLY REVIEWED BY THE MEDICAL

COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY

AND THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE THROUGH THE ANNUAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMME PLAN AND WILL BE IMPROVED AVAILABLE.

THE REVIEW OF AS RESOURCES ARE

MEDICALLY, VOCATIONALLY AND SOCIALLY, ULTIMATELY

"THEY AIM AT A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES THROUGH WHICH THE MENTALLY

RECOVER ILL MAY ACHIEVING FULL REHABILITATION AND INTEGRATION, HE SAID.

H

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