Finally, I'm back from Hospital Bahagia, Tanjung Rambutan, Perak. It was a wonderful trip; filled with excitement and thrill. Firstly arrived there at around 11.30 - 12 p.m. Cuz the bus operates in Malaysian timing, which is terrible! Then had a briefing on the Hospital's history and some basic information. Went for lunch around Ipoh and saw our sister college, Sunway Ipoh College. Its a bit sad though... since its one office/shop lot building on its own =(
Sharp at 2 p.m. went back to the Hospital and then .... the TOUR begins!
Stop 1: Administration
This is where all mentally ill individuals come when they first arrived. Its divided between the male admin and female admin; so its separated. We visited the male admin facility. Most people here are mentally unstable; mostly diagnosed with Schizophrenia. We saw some of the patients as they were sun bathing... I would say its actually quite a nice place in comparison to my imagination. They live in an open area with grills; no curtains doors. This is due to that most of them have may have the tendency to suicidal thus, its to prevent them from doing so. Overall, the patients looked very sad. When I saw them, yes, I do feel scared but I empathised them more... I wonder what was the last trigger that cuz them to be in this state. Its such as sad thing that Malaysia is lack of Psychologists; or else these people would have been better cared for.
Stop 2: Forensic Ward
Here; as the name suggested, its where mentally ill criminals are housed. So these people are very dangerous as most of them have very high profile cases. Here I was very afraid... not only these people are dangerous but also the fact that the do not have security people in the ward itself; its only medical staffs. Initially it was thought that we were not allowed to enter the ward to see the patients due to safety reasons. But then, we went. So we actually saw these patients and well, I feel very very very afraid! Boy, am I glad once I step out of it! I know I should not behaving this way since I'm a psychology student. But I'm human too and its the first time I've ever see these people; the people that we heard about in our textbooks and lectures. Its fascinating but its also scary at the same time.
Stop 3:
I'm not sure what its called but its the place where homeless mentally ill individuals are housed; some of them are stable. These patients are homeless not because their family members abandoned them, but rather they can't trace their family members as some of them are not local Malaysians but rather foreigners who came to Malaysia to work during the Industrial Evolution era; around 1920s-1940s. Thus, these patients are very old; some even as old as 80 years old. When I see them, part of me feel glad but the other part of feel sad. I'm glad that they are not abandoned on the streets and sad because they are lonely; no family members and most of them spent their lives here just like that.
Stop 4: Farm Area
This place is where mentally stable individuals are housed. These patients are on the road to recovery, thus they are given their own living space just like any normal individuals (like me and you). Patients here are given training for job skills so that they could earn pocket money and some actually work for companies and have their own home within the hospital (some even have Astro and car and motorcycle). They also plant vegetables and fruits. They also have a fish pond nearby, where some are actually given the responsibility to feed the fishes. So all in all, patients here are treated like normal individuals.This is also our final stop.
All in all this is actually a very good educational trip not only we see real-life cases but also, we as normal beings have a lot to be grateful for. Most of us complained we need this more, we need that more, but do we really stop and think whether do we really need it? One thing for sure is that, we should be grateful for all that we have as they are some people spend their whole lifetime searching and wondering and being in the facilities where some of their family members actually rejected them; just like these patients. I really hope our number of Psychologist available in Malaysia will increase to an appropriate and acceptable figure; where we can do our best to care for all mentally ill individuals and also the society as a whole.
