Boon Kee
I was diagnosed with psychosis in April 2014 and was hospitalized at the Institute of Mental Health (Singapore) for more than a month. After i was prescribed with medication I was discharged and placed under the Early Psychosis Intervention Program (EPIP).
Under this care model, there is case management and different group activities for outpatients who are stable. The activities ranged from sports to discussion groups. I found a purpose in my life after the psychosis episode by attending a particular discussion group that runs on every Wednesday afternoons. I am always looking forward to it as I can meet with peers and learn new things and topics from this group. The facilitators are Occupational Therapists and I think they have something to do with my motivation to attend and get involved with the group.
EPIP runs for 3 years and I guess my final months with it will be June 2017. I was referred to other groups and branches of the mental health support but it is just not the same. The group activities and facilitators are just not right for me. How I wish EPIP will be considerable and be empathetic enough to give their clients the option of staying with the care program after the 3-year period.
I am volunteering now as a befriender, and is seeing a couple more volunteering opportunities coming my way. One in particular is in counseling for seniors, their caregivers and family members. Training shall be provided and I hope I can complete it and start contributing and working with people who are distressed or simply need someone who are not biased and is willing to listen to them with an open mind.
A support group and the right facilitators for me are hard to come by, and it sure works differently for everyone. The new volunteering activities are a hope for me yet it can be filled with uncertainties. I envisioned that with the hard work, dedications and time I shall be putting into it will be reap the seeds of satisfaction, fulfillment and knowledge.
Meanwhile I can feel the impending void, which needs to be filled.