- Joined
- Aug 29, 2008
- Messages
- 26,226
- Points
- 113
Singapore’s only psychiatric sheltered home opens
The Anglican Care Centre (Farrer Park) will support those who are ready to live independently
By TOH EE MING
Published 12:25 AM, OCTOBER 14, 2017
Updated 12:33 AM, October 14, 2017
SINGAPORE — Adults and youths on a stable path to mental health recovery can now seek refuge at Singapore’s only psychiatric sheltered home.
The four-storey Anglican Care Centre (Farrer Park) officially opened on Friday night (Oct 13) and could take in residents from Monday. It can house 60 adults and 20 youths aged 16 to 21 who need temporary accommodation and are ready to live independently in the community.
ADVERTISING
Their psychiatric condition – schizophrenia or major depressive disorder, for instance – must be diagnosed as stable before admission to the centre. Residents pay S$155 to S$620 a month after means testing.
People with mental illness undergo a “long journey” in their recovery process, said Dr Arthur Chern, group chief executive of Singapore Anglican Community Services (SACS) and St Andrew’s Mission Hospital. SACS was appointed last year by the government to operate the home.
After treatment at a hospital, those with mental illness would typically be sent for residential or day rehabilitation services, which focus on helping them to manage their illness.
Unlike a residential rehabilitation facility, the Anglican Care Centre focuses more on independent living – residents, who are in the “last phase” of recovery, are encouraged to do their own laundry or take charge of their meals. They will share four- to six-bedded rooms, with men staying on the second floor, women on the third floor and youths occupying the fourth floor.
The home will cater to individuals who are not able to find their own accommodation, whose family support is lacking, or whose home environments are too stressful, said Dr Chern.
“A lot of mental health patients’ family structures collapse, so they don’t even have a home to go back to. So the rehabilitation phase ensures that they are compliant (with) medication and treatment,” he explained.
Rehabilitation counsellors will hold counselling sessions with residents or have informal chats with them. They may also check if the residents are sticking to their medication through a register.
Job training and placements will be available. Residents could be trained to be a shopkeeper or cashier at the SACS’ thrift shops, and some could take on packing jobs at supermarkets through SACS’ partnership with the Jardine Matheson Group.
Volunteers will also drop in to befriend the residents through games, karaoke sessions or the teaching of computer skills.
On whether the home’s capacity was adequate, Dr Chern said it is too early to assess the level of demand. “We have to see how (residents) benefit from this (model), how long they stay here before they get back into the community,” he said, adding that he hopes they can live there for about six months.
At the event, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said holistic help for those with mental health conditions is important. “With good community support, many of them can lead a normal life including engaging in regular employment,” he said.
Ms Ivy Lam, 37, who has bipolar disorder and is now a peer support worker at SACS’ Hougang Care Centre, said staying at its Simei Care Centre between 2010 and 2016 drastically reduced her rate of relapse. Both centres offer residential and day rehabilitation services.
She previously relapsed more than four times a year due to a “chaotic” home environment where her parents constantly quarrelled. She was the family’s sole breadwinner and had to take care of her father, who had dementia and was paralysed after a stroke.
“I felt there was no peace... After I stayed at the (facility), I realised I had my own cubicle, a lot of friends, and the staff showed love and concern to me,” said Ms Lam, who now lives in a rented room in Pasir Ris.
The Anglican Care Centre (Farrer Park) will support those who are ready to live independently
By TOH EE MING
Published 12:25 AM, OCTOBER 14, 2017
Updated 12:33 AM, October 14, 2017
SINGAPORE — Adults and youths on a stable path to mental health recovery can now seek refuge at Singapore’s only psychiatric sheltered home.
The four-storey Anglican Care Centre (Farrer Park) officially opened on Friday night (Oct 13) and could take in residents from Monday. It can house 60 adults and 20 youths aged 16 to 21 who need temporary accommodation and are ready to live independently in the community.
ADVERTISING
Their psychiatric condition – schizophrenia or major depressive disorder, for instance – must be diagnosed as stable before admission to the centre. Residents pay S$155 to S$620 a month after means testing.
People with mental illness undergo a “long journey” in their recovery process, said Dr Arthur Chern, group chief executive of Singapore Anglican Community Services (SACS) and St Andrew’s Mission Hospital. SACS was appointed last year by the government to operate the home.
After treatment at a hospital, those with mental illness would typically be sent for residential or day rehabilitation services, which focus on helping them to manage their illness.
Unlike a residential rehabilitation facility, the Anglican Care Centre focuses more on independent living – residents, who are in the “last phase” of recovery, are encouraged to do their own laundry or take charge of their meals. They will share four- to six-bedded rooms, with men staying on the second floor, women on the third floor and youths occupying the fourth floor.
The home will cater to individuals who are not able to find their own accommodation, whose family support is lacking, or whose home environments are too stressful, said Dr Chern.
“A lot of mental health patients’ family structures collapse, so they don’t even have a home to go back to. So the rehabilitation phase ensures that they are compliant (with) medication and treatment,” he explained.
Rehabilitation counsellors will hold counselling sessions with residents or have informal chats with them. They may also check if the residents are sticking to their medication through a register.
Job training and placements will be available. Residents could be trained to be a shopkeeper or cashier at the SACS’ thrift shops, and some could take on packing jobs at supermarkets through SACS’ partnership with the Jardine Matheson Group.
Volunteers will also drop in to befriend the residents through games, karaoke sessions or the teaching of computer skills.
On whether the home’s capacity was adequate, Dr Chern said it is too early to assess the level of demand. “We have to see how (residents) benefit from this (model), how long they stay here before they get back into the community,” he said, adding that he hopes they can live there for about six months.
At the event, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said holistic help for those with mental health conditions is important. “With good community support, many of them can lead a normal life including engaging in regular employment,” he said.
Ms Ivy Lam, 37, who has bipolar disorder and is now a peer support worker at SACS’ Hougang Care Centre, said staying at its Simei Care Centre between 2010 and 2016 drastically reduced her rate of relapse. Both centres offer residential and day rehabilitation services.
She previously relapsed more than four times a year due to a “chaotic” home environment where her parents constantly quarrelled. She was the family’s sole breadwinner and had to take care of her father, who had dementia and was paralysed after a stroke.
“I felt there was no peace... After I stayed at the (facility), I realised I had my own cubicle, a lot of friends, and the staff showed love and concern to me,” said Ms Lam, who now lives in a rented room in Pasir Ris.
