XN000022-1990-05-22 — Page 9

TORSDAY, MAY 22, 1990

WAS

THAT

THOSE

MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT THE PURPOSE-BUILT HALF-WAY HOUSE BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM WHICH DEMONSTRATED THE CHANCE OF SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION WOULD BE SMALLER IF ALL

AND SUPERVISION WERE REQUIRING INTENSIVE CARE

SEGREGATED INTO AN ISOLATED AND EXCLUSIVE GROUP.

THIS TYPE OF FACILITY SERVED NOT ONLY DISCHARGED MENTAL INCLUDING PATIENTS WHO NEEDED A HIGHER LEVEL OF SUPERVISION AND CARE,

WHO THOSE

HAD AN ASSESSED DISPOSITION

BUT TO VIOLENCE, DISCHARGED MENTAL PATIENTS WITHOUT SUCH A BACKGROUND, SHE SAID.

ALSO

A

"IN A PURPOSE-BUILT HALF-WAY HOUSE, THROUGH THE PROVISION OF SMALL GROUP LIVING ENVIRONMENT, COUPLED WITH PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT, THE RESIDENTS ARE ASSISTED TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF SELF IDENTITY TO HELP EFFECT POSITIVE ADJUSTMENTS TO THEIR SOCIAL SKILLS, WORK HABITS, VALUES OF LIFE AND DECISION-MAKING ABILITIES.

"IN THIS WAY, THE HALF-WAY HOUSE SERVES AS A TRANSITIONAL VENUE FOR READJUSTMENT BACK INTO THE NORMAL ROUTINE OF DAILY LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY, MRS WONG SAID.

"TO CATER TO THE NEEDS OF THE CHRONIC MENTAL PATIENTS WHO ARE IN STABLE OR CONTROLLED MEDICAL AND MENTAL CONDITIONS BUT DO NOT REQUIRE ACTIVE TREATMENT EXCEPT MINIMAL NURSING CARE, THE LONG STAY CARE HOME WAS SET UP IN HONG KONG EARLIER THIS YEAR.

"IT PROVIDES FOR REHABILITATION OUTSIDE A HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT, CONSTITUTES ACCOMMODATION COUPLED WITH CARE AND TRAINING.

OF

"THE AIM IS FOR RESIDENTS TO PROGRESS FROM A STATE DEPENDENCY TO SEMI-DEPENDENCY THROUGH SOCIAL SUPPORT, APPROPRIATE STIMULATION AND SUPERVISION.

+4

'SOME INDEED CAN BE EXPECTED TO PROGRESS TO INDEPENDENT AND EVENTUAL RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY, SHE SAID.

11

LIVING

MRS WONG STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR PERSONS WHO HAD RECOVERED OR WERE RECOVERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS.

"SINCE 1985, PUBLIC EDUCATION ON REHABILITATION HAS BEEN GIVEN A MAJOR STATUS IN THE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS OF THE GOVERNMENT," SHE SAID.

TURNING TO RECENT CHANGES TO RELEVANT LEGISLATION, SHE SAID THE MENTAL HEALTH ORDINANCE WAS AMENDED IN 1988 TO REINFORCE THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE MENTALLY ILL.

"IN PARTICULAR, TWO NEW PROVISIONS OF MAJOR INTRODUCED, NAMELY THE GUARDIANSHIP SCHEME AND REVIEW TRIBUNAL,

"THE PURPOSE OF THE GUARDIANSHIP SCHEME IS WELFARE OF MENTALLY ILL PERSONS AGED 18 AND ABOVE TIME TO PROTECT OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

SIGNIFICANCE WERE THE MENTAL HEALTH

то SAFEGUARD THE AND AT THE SAME

/"THE ESTABLISHMENT