DESTITUTE PERSONS

DESTITUTE PERSONS: * * *

45.

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) how many destitute persons were detained by the Ministry over the past three years; (b) how many of these were of unsound mind and were referred to a mental institution for treatment; (c) what liaison is there between MCYS and MOH before a destitute with a history of mental illness is discharged from a hospital; (d) how are

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destitute persons being helped to support themselves financially before being released from detention; and (e) which agency handles cases of destitutes with unsound mind who are living alone in HDB estates and posing a problem to their neighbours.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: In the last three years, the number of persons residing in MCYS’ destitute welfare homes was 1,728 in 2006, 1,746 in 2007 and 1,785 in 2008.

Each year, MCYS sees about 228 new admissions into our welfare homes. Of these, about 20% or 47 persons have some form of mental illness. Residents who have psychiatric conditions are reviewed by psychiatrists from the Institute of Mental Health, who visit the welfare homes weekly. If they are assessed to be unsuitable for residence in a welfare home, they would be hospitalised at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for treatment. Last year, there were five such cases.

Most of the chronic psychiatric residents in the welfare homes were long stay patients of IMH, who had been transferred to the welfare homes as they no longer require hospitalisation, but did not have families to return to.

The welfare homes provide basic care which includes meals, accommodation, social activities, training and job assignments matched to the residents’ capabilities. All residents staying in the welfare homes have an individual rehabilitation programme developed for them. Those who can do simple chores will participate in work programmes where they will receive an allowance. The more able residents are given opportunities to go out and work during the day, to prepare them for eventual discharge from the Homes. Residents will be considered for discharge if they have caregivers who are able to take care them or if they are able to find jobs and live independently. The social workers at the homes will provide the necessary assistance with housing or employment arrangements, and the discharged residents will continue to be supervised for up to one year after discharge. Residents with psychiatric conditions are only discharged into the community if they have family or caregivers’ support. Those who are not discharged would remain in the welfare homes, or be transferred to nursing homes if their medical conditions deteriorate.

If the community is aware of anyone with mental illness who is living alone and requires any form of assistance, they can call IMH’s helpline at 6389-2222.

The majority of mentally ill patients can and do live meaningful and productive lives in the community; it is only a small minority who are at risk of being violent and aggressive. For violent or aggressive individuals who are believed to be a danger to others, the police are empowered to bring them for medical assessment at institutions such as IMH if they are suspected to have a mental illness.

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