(Oct 8) - BEYOND battling the stigma those recovering from mental illness still face, there are two other issues - suitable shelter and jobs.

These two key gaps in the national effort to shore up mental health care here are being studied by the multi-ministerial committee on mental health.

While the details are still unavailable, discussions with parties are ongoing to find ways to provide housing for those recovering from mental illness, and to get them suitable jobs.

The recently formed committee's sub-group - one of several - headed by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and the Ministry of Health, is looking specifically into these two issues.

Speaking yesterday at a community event to destigmatise mental illness, the chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health, Madam Halimah Yacob, highlighted these two woes of the mentally ill.

Those who work with such patients say a sheltered environment to recuperate properly, without stressing the family, and a job to sustain treatment, are crucial to the recovery of mental patients.

But the numbers of such shelters and employers willing to accommodate those with mental illnesses are currently insufficient, said consultant psychiatrist Ang Yong Guan, 52.

He is the chairman of the Action Group for Mental Illness, which organised a walk in Bukit Batok Central where Madam Halimah was guest of honour.

Untreated mental illness takes a high toll on society and the economy. In the United States, the condition is estimated by its National Institute of Mental Health to result in productivity losses, and health-care and societal costs to the tune of more than US$300 billion (S$440 billion) a year, said Madam Halimah.

She added that one organisation told her it had observed more mentally ill people being picked up from the streets and taken there for temporary accommodation.

Said Madam Halimah: 'It is not easy for those with mental illness to rent from the private rental market as it is too expensive for them. Also, landlords who know of their illness will not be prepared to let out rooms to them.'

Both Madam Halimah and Dr Ang also spoke of the 'no-win' dilemma of job seekers having to declare their history of mental illness on job application forms.

Said Madam Halimah: 'If they tick 'yes', they won't be hired. If they tick 'no' and are found later to be lying, they will be fired.'

Dr Ang hopes some of the $88 million MOH has committed to boosting mental health care will go towards conducting workshops for employers on managing workers with a history of mental illness.

Said recovering schizophrenia patient Fabian Daniel, 42: 'If people... have a more positive attitude towards us, it would really help us in our recovery.'