Giving Hope to Those with Mental Health Conditions: President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Launch of Refurbished Singapore Association For Mental Health Group Homes

Minister of State for Health & Communications and Information Mdm Rahayu Mahzam,

Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash, Chief Executive Officer, Agency for Integrated Care,

Adjunct Associate Prof Lee Cheng, President, Singapore Association for Mental Health,

Ladies and Gentlemen

1. It is my pleasure to join you today at the launch of the refurbished Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) Group Homes.

Communities for recovery

2. Many of you here today are helping to tackle a challenge that every society faces: helping persons with mental health conditions on their path to recovery, and to leading happy, healthy, productive lives.

3.  For those struggling with a mental illness or caring for someone who does, life can feel deeply isolating. The burden can seem overwhelming, and something they hesitate to share with others. The darkness can feel all-encompassing. We must come together – as a community – to break through this isolation.

4.  SAMH has sought to destigmatise mental health conditions and support persons with mental health conditions in their recovery since its establishment in 1968. SAMH Group Homes, set up in 1995,  was the first Psychiatric Rehabilitation Home to be set up within a HDB estate, with four housing units accommodating up to 36 clients.  

5.  The Homes are important in helping persons with mental health conditions who are undergoing clinical treatment to adapt to the changes in their lives. For example, some of them have to stop working, and they may even find themselves stigmatised in society. Our goal is to allow them to reintegrate into the community and live independently.  

6.  As SAMH Group Homes is situated in an HDB neighbourhood, it helps clients feel almost at home. At the same time, it provides the residents opportunities to get to know persons with mental health conditions, normalising the fact and helping to dispel misconceptions about the behaviour and capabilities of this often-misunderstood group of individuals.

7.  SAMH Group Homes provides psychosocial and vocational rehabilitation services, with the aim of reducing the need for inpatient treatment and reintegrating them into the community. Being able to return to work is also part of recovery.

8.  With its refurbishment, SAMH Group Homes will be able to support more clients. The refurbishment also creates an open concept in interior design which promotes opportunities for group activities and create a stronger sense of community between the clients themselves and with the SAMH support team.

Achieving their potential and giving back

9.     When given the necessary support, many persons with stabilised mental health conditions are equally capable of working, improving their lives and making meaningful contributions to the society. Let me share a few of their stories.

   1.  Jackson was referred to SAMH Group Homes in 2015 so that he could learn to be independent and secure a job. SAMH helped him work through his emotions, establish independent living skills and explore job opportunities. Jackson subsequently secured employment as a security guard.  He has since moved into his own BTO flat and enjoys a better relationship with his family. During his time with SAMH Group Homes, Jackson also developed an interest in poetry and even penned a poem in SAMH’s 50^th anniversary book – will come to that in a bit.

   2.  In 2015, Harry was homeless and jobless. He was referred to SAMH Group Homes for residential care and treatment for depression. He secured employment as a security officer. Later, SAMH encouraged him to attend a peer support specialist training workshop, which he did, and that led to him being hired as a peer support specialist at a healthcare facility. He now helps others with their recovery.

   3.  After her relationship with her mother became strained, Sheryl joined the SAMH Group Homes.  With SAMH’s help the 23-year-old is working on improving her relationship with her mother, as well as saving up to buy her new home.

10.  We want to create more stories like these. As SAMH’s work has shown, treatment is effective, and recovery is possible. We can help people who suffer from a mental illness to be great colleagues, volunteers, and people we love. We can give them a new sense of hope.

11.  The community is very much part of the journey. In the case of SAMH Group Homes, residents staying in the neighbourhood provided free haircuts, and donors sponsored festive dinners. And clients at the Group Homes themselves have stepped up with food ration and bento delivery to needy residents in the neighbourhood. Such projects increased the visibility and acceptance of persons in recovery as neighbours who contribute positively to society.

12.  Some determination, some self-confidence and a lot of support and trust from the rest of us will certainly make the future of each and every person suffering from mental health conditions brighter and beautiful. As Jackson expressed in SAMH’s 50th anniversary book, in his poem titled “Towards a bright and beautiful future”:

Let me say these words to myself

My future is good, bright, beautiful, excellent and successful

And I definitely will progress from here

13.  As the Association’s Patron, I would like to express gratitude to all those involved in the development of this refurbished Group Homes. Your contribution and commitment, small or big, helps us create an inclusive and respectful Singapore.

14.  Thank you very much.