KUCHING: An increase in the number of mental patients at Hospital Sentosa indicates that its psychiatric services have undergone significant development.
Last year the hospital recorded more outpatients numbering 16,216.
Director Dr Rosliwati Mohd Yusof said the 338-bed hospital recorded an increase of 954 admissions last year compared to 786 in 2018.
“The hospital has recorded an increase of new outpatients at 441 last year, up from 346 in 2018,” she said during a press conference pertaining to the sixth Sarawak Mental Health Conference at the hospital, yesterday.
A staffer at the hospital’s outpatients department, Ahmad Zamri Warimin, connected a likely link between the increase of new outpatients and possible increase in self-awareness among people with mental issues.
“They become aware of their mental health and decided to get professional help. The hospital always has outreach programmes at schools and companies to raise such awareness. It does not mean that there are more people with mental problems; it means that more cases were detected,” he said.
On the common factors underlying mental illness, a psychiatrist Dr Syarifah Hafizah Wan Kassim said that it was multi-factorial, but the environment contributes the most.
“After scanning a patient, we often found that his or her environment was the main factor that contributes to the overwhelming stress, which eventually led to mental illness,” she explained.
She also pointed out that children who had bad parenting and experienced abuse (sexual and physical) could develop trauma and mental illness if not detected and helped earlier.
About the coming mental health conference, it is hoped that it could show that mental patients also had their own life’s purposes to fulfil and future roles to play.
Themed ‘Embracing Mental Health Inclusivity: Towards Wellness and Recovery’, it will focus on the wellbeing and recovery of patients.
The conference is organised by Hospital Sentosa and CME Hospital Sentosa, and supported by Business Event Sarawak (Sarawak Convention Bureau).
The conference proper will be held at Imperial Hotel, Kuching on April 1 and 2 while April 3 (8am to 5pm) is reserved for the workshops.
Dr Rosliwati, who is also the conference chairman, said they welcomed doctors, counsellors, clinical psychologists, allied health people and related professionals who work with clients who are at risk of having mental health issues.
The conference’s scientific chief, Dr Syarifah, said the objectives were also to enhance and share knowledge about inter-professional collaborative practices in mental health and promote comprehensive mental health care and recovery.
According to her, there will be a nine-member panel, seven symposiums and four workshops, and so far they have already gotten hold of 24 speakers. The organisers are still waiting for more replies from other invitees.
“These speakers are experts who work in the field inside and outside the country,” she said.
On a separate matter, Hospital Sentosa held a belated joint Christmas and Chinese New Year party for its staff members and inpatients.
Dr Rosliwati who officiated at the event said the idea was to create a bit of joy so that the patients won’t feel left out.
“We want our patients to know that they have their places in society like other persons despite their mental condition,” she said at the event yesterday.
