Public Forum 2001
THE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP
Public Forum: Caring for Your Mentally ill Relative
The Family Support Group organised a Public Forum on the topic "Caring for Your Mentally Ill Relative" on 30th September, at Hotel Singgahsana, in Petaling Jaya. It was sponsored by the drug company, AstraZeneca.About 160 people attended it, including relatives of the mentally ill, mental health professionals and those with a mental disorder. There were four speakers, each addressing an aspect of the topic.
The first two speakers were Dr.Chin Cheuk Ngen (President of the Malaysian Psychiatric Association) and Dr.Susy Mathew (from Hospital Kuala Lumpur), both consultant psychiatrists. They threw light on some important facts related to mental illness: Mental Illness is real and affects the thinking, perception, mood and emotions of the sufferer. The actual causes of mental illness are complex but they are a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Mental illness is treatable although some conditions are chronic and relapses are inevitable, especially if the patient is not on regular medication. Medication can relieve many symptoms and bring remission but have side-effects.The choice, dosage and duration of the medication are important. Some of the new-generation drugs are more user- friendly, but there is no miracle drug.
Successful management includes the use of counselling and psychotherapy in which patients are helped to make changes in relationship patterns or lifestyle, if necessary. Support from the family and the community is also.crucial. Studies on schizophrenia have shown that lack of warmth, hostility, criticism, over-involvement on the part of family members (who spend too much time with their ill relative or do everything for him/her) are detrimental to the patient's psychological well-being. Both the patients and their family members need to have realistic expectations of what the patients can and cannot do and accept these limitations.
The next two speakers were caregivers whose sharing struck a chord in the hearts of many primary caregivers who could identify with the struggles and pain of these speakers. "I mourn the loss of my son.... to mental illness," said Dr. K.Y. Koo. She spoke of the sense of desperation that she and her husband felt at the beginning when they were confronted with the symptoms of their son's depression only to be told by their G.P. that there was nothing wrong with him but with them (they were too anxious)! This short talk was packed with useful pointers culled from her personal experience on what parents can do to help their ill child (e.g. read up on the illness, set limits on behaviour, manners, attire,) and how parents can protect themselves and the rest of the family from succumbing to stress (e.g. eat and exercise well, make time for hobbies and fun things).
"I am a single mother," declared Miss A.L Lim, who takes care of her mentally ill sister as a mother would care for her daughter. Her sister, who succumbed to schizophrenia some 32 years ago, has shown improvement in some ways (e.g. she sleeps less and is able to help with household chores as well as work once a week in her church office) but remains the same in others (such as the manifestation of the symptoms of her illness).
Both caregivers spoke of how their proactive involvement in the management of their relative's illness (such as getting a second or even third medical opinion) can bring positive results. They were united in their belief that a strong support system of concerned friends and relatives has helped them to weather the stresses and strains of being a primary caregiver.
An important component of this support system is other caregivers, such as can be found in the MMHA 's Family Support Group, stresses the FSG Chairperson , who went on to explain the five objectives of the Group. Caregivers were then strongly encouraged to help the MMHA's Family Support Group achieve its objectives by signing up for membership, which costs only a nominal sum.
The four speakers then answered questions from the audience during Question time, with the chairman, Dr.Yen Teck Hoe (from the Universiti Malay Medical Centre), adding his comments to those of the psychiatrists to whom most of the questions were directed. Some caregivers wanted to know how to deal with the delusions and aggressive behaviour exhibited by their relatives, or how to encourage reluctant patients to see the doctor. Others wanted to know whether primary prevention of mental illness was possible and whether mentally ill people should get married. This Question and Answer session continued informally during Refreshments time as some caregivers went to see the speakers, especially the psychiatrists, forgoing the tea and snacks served. The FSG sub-committee members were kept busy collecting completed MMHA and FSG membership forms and fees and giving information on the MMHA and their services.
The question, "When are you having the next Forum?" succinctly sums up the response of members of the public to this maiden effort of the FSG sub-committee!
Family Support Group 
