Activities in Half-Way Home

At our half-way home, we constantly have visitors, sponsors and students of Medical Studies doing their community service. Some of the activities include teaching them some handiwork, cooking and even bringing them out for some outdoor activities like to the beach. All these makes the residents feel good and happy.


Here are some residents and students preparing some goodies for an upcoming charity sale. Getting the packages ready was fun... earning some $$$ out of them was even more.


"Which ball are we going to use?"
Choosing teams and determining
game rules. What are the odds?





"Can you guess who I'm trying to mimic?" Everyone seems to be having fun in this group activity.





Some days out in the sun with the greens.. even if it's just weeding and cutting grass, is good for the body, both physically and mentally.





Anyone is has a warm heart, willing to help the community can join us as a member or just organize an activity with their groups of big-hearted people. I can be contacted at my em-mail should anyone be interested.

Abusive Relationship

You met a new guy. He's sweet, cute, smart, funny and he just wants to be with you... all the time. In fact, he already declaring his undying love for you even before your very first date. He is totally into you. He wants to know everything and everything about you. Even sends you cute and loving notes, SMSs, giving you gifts out of nowhere. Charming and romantic, huh? Who wouldn't be mesmerized?

After the 'beautiful' relationship blossomed, you noticed that he does some 'annoying' stuff like shoving you around, threatened to kill himself if you leave him, shows you his moody face just because you were friendly with some guy, throwing tantrums... You brush them off when he starts treating you nice again and telling you he can't live without you.Of course, what's a little jealousy if you're in love.

Being in an abusive relationship is nothing new. The abuser can be either a man or a woman. Here is perhaps, a few danger signs you should be on the lookout.

1. Declaring his/her undying love for you before even knowing each other.
2. His/her jealousy is over the roof, i.e. suspicious of any opposite sex, wanting you for
himself/herself all the time - this kind of jealousy is not love, it's a problem.
3. Control freak - tells you what to wear, what to do, what to say, picking your friends, job, keeps your money...
4. Threatens you if you tried to leave him/her or just when you refuse to do as instructed.
5. Violent towards you either physically (punching the walls, hitting you), mentally
(name-calling, insults) or sexually (insisting on unwanted sexual activity).

Bottom line is trust your instincts. If you feel that this is the kind of relationship you're living with, get out to safety. You can never expect to change a person. But don't try to break up the relationship abruptly. Talk to someone you can trust or call a counseling hot line. Plan ahead! You have a brighter future lying in front of you.

Are you stressed out?

Do you ever feel like pulling out your hair or just wish you could scream your lungs out? It really doesn't matter what age you are, all of us at some stages in life experience 'high stress levels'. Here are some stress indicators. If you're experiencing a lot of them, better be wary and find some way to relax.

1. You're always late for work, school, meetings, appointments, etc.
2. You have trouble finishing your sentence.
3. You're impatient and always losing your temper over minor issues.
4. You feel tired most of the time.
5. You get up few times in the night.
6. You find it hard to fall asleep or you sleep too much.
7. You smoke or drink more alcohol than usual.
8. You always put the blame on other people.
9. Nothing you do seems fun anymore.
10. You have high blood pressure, diarrhoea, headache, shoulder ache, etc.
11. You feel moody and sick most of the time.
12. Friends and families keep on asking, "Are you ok?"


Feel free to add in some more.

Kuching Half-Way Home Rehabilitation Programme

The Half-way Home, also known as Group Home was designed specifically by the Mental Health Association of Kuching to act as a Rehabilitation Centre for mentally ill people who have been discharged by the hospital and other institution to prepare them to return to their families or community to lead a normal life.

With residential quarters provided for these 'residents' as they are known, the concept is to educate them to live in an environment where they can feel 'at home' in a place of the hospital ward. In this environment, they are exposed to think and be proactive in their daily lives such as looking after their personal hygiene, house-keeping like washing their own clothes, cleaning bedrooms, sweeping floors, etc. On top of these, they need to learn to buy daily essential food before before preparing and cooking for themselves. On relationship among each other, they are encouraged to behave as brothers and sisters in a family and quarrels with one another are discouraged.

Day attendants with mental illness from the community are also allowed into the Home to participate in the daily activities and socialize with other residents. This idea is to create an environment of good friendship and a feeling of normal not only among the residents but also with visitors to the Home.

Some of the residents who have been rehabilitated in the Home have been able to return to their homes or village to lead a normal life and earn a living.

Living under the Mental Roof

Now why did I say that? What was I trying to say? What I really meant was the situation of living under the same roof as a family member diagnosed with mental illness. What did it felt like? What do caregivers have to deal with?

Firstly, what is mental mental illness? Also known as mental disorder, it is a psychological or behavioral pattern that occurs in an individual that is not expected as part of normal development or culture. It can cover psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, etc.

This is no joke. Such topic should not be taken lightly. Once of the hardest part to deal with is that we cannot talk to them the same way we would to others. We cannot blame them for the things they do. Patience and being sensitive to them is important as there is no point point reasoning with them most of the time. Such are normally the advise medical experts would advise caregivers to do. But how long can a caregiver go down the line.

I would agree to the statement the prevention is better than cure. More attention should also be given to caregivers by other members of the families and friends. They are at a higher risk of stumbling into this category of people due to the higher stress levels. Such stress levels differ depending on the individual that is being cared for. Even though the individual with such disorder may not think the same way a normal person would, often they do understand and once they are being 'pampered', ie. giving in to their way simply because they are 'unwell' - it would be a habit.

Not everyone can get well using the same method. There is absolutely no 'Standard Procedures' to help in the healing process of all. Each has a unique method and it is up to us, to identify, learn and possibly help them to rid this problem. But then again, this are all just what I think and feel. I can't expect the whole world to agree with me, can I?