Mental Patients Have Rights Too by Matthew Koh
Posted by kjeyaretnam
Having visited friends warded in IMH (Institute of Mental Health) at Buangkok green recently, I see that there aren’t much changes to the way things are done at IMH. Some patients are referred to Hougang Care Centre and other Centres to reside there after discharge. The rehabilitation Centres are staffed by a lot of Filipino and other foreign attendants and nurses. Mental patients are often shunned by society and a social stigma is attached to being a mental patient. It is reported that 1 out of 4 persons in the world suffer from some form of mental disorder. Bi-polar disorder and Schizophrenia are the most common. A huge proportion of mental patients cannot function normally and need constant care; these are usually warded long-term in the Mental hospital. Injections and medications don’t seem to work for some patients who remain in a world of their own.
My friend warded in IMH, reported that the shavers given out are not sharp enough to shave properly. There is also sharing of toothbrushes and soap. For the high amount of fees paid to the hospital, general hygiene is still lacking in taking care of the mental patients warded. There is report that a particular long-stay patient who is restrained is fed a diet of rice porridge with salted egg which is literally poured down his throat by the attendants feeding him. This type of treatment is usually found only in Zoos where animals are kept.
How about the prospect of employment? Mental patients who are well enough to work after treatment, have no choice but to conceal their illness upon applying for a job. Otherwise, they will not get employed. A personal friend of mine, a mental patient with a NUS Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, is unable to get a job each time he admits to having Schizophrenia and undergoing psychiatric treatment. Is this the case in other Civilised societies like USA or Europe? These Western Societies are more humane when treating their mental patients.
Medical costs at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) is not cheap; the previous Old Woodbridge Hospital charged S$1 a day for admissions into their Class “C” wards in the 1970s to 1980s. The Medical fees for admissions jumped up to about S$40 a day at the new IMH. Of course a Singaporean can seek social welfare from the social worker on duty but few of the applicants are approved adequate welfare. Perceptions must change in regard to mental patients if Singapore is to move into the First World.
Outpatient medical appointments at IMH; consultation fees and medication can come up to about S$20 a month even after subsidies by the government. Mental patients usually do not work and are unemployed for long periods of time; the costs of treatment are thus usually borne by their relatives. This is a heavy financial burden on their relatives. There is a need for greater welfare subsidies to take care of mental patients in Singapore.
I will take up the fight for more rights for mental patients as more and more people break down each day from the pressures of our society. You may have a friend or relative that you know who suffers from mental illness. Do show a little more kindness to them. The Government needs to wake-up in this area.
There are many more people who suffer in silence living with mental illness; they fear to seek treatment as they are afraid of the social stigma and being shunned by society. In Western countries, it is common for sufferers of insomnia, a sleep disorder to seek treatment from a Psychiatrist. Also, smokers and alcoholics who wish to quit from their habits, often seek help from Psychiatrists. But in Singapore, the mere mention of seeing a Psychiatrist seem to turn people off. Are we a truly mature society?
Yes, the government is partially to be blamed for the people’s perception of mental illness. Laws must be legislated to protect the rights of mental patients. For instance, it is not just for job application forms to demand to know if a person is suffering from mental illness. In this case 1 out of 4 persons in this world who suffer from mental illness will not be able to get a job. Mental illness is a handicap and as handicapped people, they need the understanding of society and the cooperation of others to survive in this world. The government in Singapore is not doing enough for this marginalised group of mental patients.
I urge all mental patients to give their votes to the Opposition Parties in Singapore as a sign of protest! Vote for the Reform Party! Mental Patients have rights too!
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About kjeyaretnam
As a blogger I hope to help imagine a model for a New Asian Nation to bring about a free and fair future for Singapore. I'm a Singaporean born and bred and a Cambridge trained economist who could be broadly described as from the Keynesian school. I'm also a successful ex - hedge fund manager and a liberal opposition politician who contested the 2011 General Election with his party. After economics and politics my greatest interests are history, film and makan!Arami | June 30, 2012 at 8:34 am
Singapore belong to the Singaporeans and not to any single political’s party. Know your right, vote for more Oppositions Parties.
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