THE EDITOR, Sir:
OUR CHURCH has been helping the mentally ill for the past 20 years. Several years ago a committee was formally launched to see to the health of these individuals. Most of these persons live in their homes with relatives but some of them have had to be helped to secure places to live, food, transportation, doctor's visit and to fill prescriptions.
The committee is co-ordinated by a registered nurse with psychiatric training (volunteer). The committee members are all volunteers and they have had training in helping these persons.
The success of the programme is due to:
Respect for privacy; ongoing education for volunteers, the mentally challenged and for the relatives; a monthly meeting of committee; monitoring the mentally challenged on a weekly basis by visits or phone calls; close contact with relatives; monthly counselling sessions with clients; encouraging and helping clients to visit the psychiatrist on a 3 to 4-monthly basis; helping clients in need to learn skills, find jobs and help financially to pay their bills; the commitment of volunteers; and prayer for the mentally challenged.
Commitment of the volunteers play a very key role. Volunteers must love people and have a desire to help them. Most mentally challenged persons can lead a fairly normal life. There are many professionals who are mentally challenged but are holding jobs and are living normal lives.
One of the problems of the mentally challenged is compliance, hence the need for monitoring. Some persons because they are feeling better tend to want to discontinue their medications. Medication is key for the mentally challenged.
Our people must be educated about mental illness. They must realise that it is not a curse; it is not something to be ashamed of; it is not something for which you seek the help of the obeah man.
Relatives must not feel ashamed. Try to help the person as much as you can. You must be willing to stand with them and support them.
I am, etc.,
VOLUNTEER
