Mental illness patients want to live with dignity, too

We are celebrating the 58th Merdeka Day today.

I wonder how many of us think about Malaysians with disabilities during the Merdeka celebrations.

And when we do, I wonder how much of our thought goes to on one of the most disadvantaged – and misunderstood – of all the disabled groups, namely those with mental illness?

When you think about it, the stakes are unfairly high against them.

The statistics about depression alone is frightening.

It is one of the leading causes of the global burden of disease today.

It is not only a major contributor worldwide in terms of total years lost because of disability, but it is expected to be the No. 1 cause by 2030.

It is projected to overtake even cardiovascular diseases.

An estimated 400 million people in the world suffer from depression. There are about 3,000 reported suicide deaths every day.

So what does it really feel like to be a person with schizophrenia, for example? 

I met KW recently who tried to tell me what such an experience is like. And, even after hearing from him, I can only imagine what life is like for him each day.

KW has been struggling with mental illness for many years.

It kept him feeling miserable so much so that he had attempted suicide a number of times – just to try and put an end to it all.

He couldn't help feeling guilty for being a problem to his caregiver, namely his mum.

KW felt that more than anyone else in the world, his mum is the last person on earth to whom he should become a burden.

However, ironically it is his mum who plays a key role today in his journey in coping with mental illness.

With great patience and love that only a mother is capable of, KW tells me, she guides him through his psychosocial rehabilitation.

"I am now gainfully employed and lead a (well almost!) normal life," he said with a smile on the face.

KW also wasted no time to tell me what his wishes are for Merdeka – one that would also make a huge difference for many other Malaysians with mental illness throughout the country:

* Please stop stigmatising mental illness.

* Please understand that we did not choose to have mental illness. We did not bring it upon ourselves because someone put a curse on us. Neither are we possessed by evil spirits.

* Please understand that mental illness is a disorder of the brain which makes us behave and do things that appear abnormal to others like you. With the right medication, we can also be well – just like those with hypertension or diabetes who have to take medications for the rest of their lives.

* Please stop discriminating against us by thinking that because of our illness, we are incapable of leading productive lives in our society and community.

With the right access to treatment, we can also be just like you. If you think we commit more violence compared with the so-called, “normal" people in society, you are wrong! Only some people with mental illness, who are not on medication, are prone to violent behaviour.

* Please don't forget that statistics all over the world – including in Malaysia – show that the majority of people who commit violent crimes are actually sane.

* Give us the same employment opportunities as the rest. We may have our shortcomings, but we all deserve a chance to prove ourselves to you and our society. Only when we are employed, can we have dignity in our lives.

The government has suggested that 1% of the workforce should be reserved for the people with disabilities – including those with chronic mental illness. Except for the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, no other agency – public or private – has complied with this suggestion.

* Can we please have more halfway homes and psychosocial rehabilitation centres in Malaysia? Medications help us think and behave normally, but we need rehabilitation to relearn skills that we have lost due to our illness. We also need to learn social and occupational skills in order to prepare us for employment. We certainly do not want to be a burden to society.

* We need more staff in government hospitals trained in mental health. We also need more psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists and psychiatric nurses. It is most frustrating and upsetting to tell our stories again and again to a new doctor each time we visit the clinic.

* More should be done to bring down the cost of our medication. Psychotropic drugs are expensive. While we appreciate that the government tries to provide free and effective medications whenever it can, the reality is that our families struggle to pay for certain medications not available at government clinics.

* Last but not least is persons with progressively worsening chronic mental illness should be given the privilege of claiming the pension of our parents when they are no longer around to care for us. It's good that many with chronic mental illness are given disabled identity cards, but those with mental illness are still not considered to be eligible for passed-down pension benefits. – August 31, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.