The presence of volunteers in the wards provides an opportunity
to our patients to build friendships and have an alternative to the
usual therapist-patient relationship. Volunteers show them that they
are not forgotten and forsaken by society.
Our volunteers
have taken our patients to many places of interest and spent many
joyful and memorable moments with them. Our patients look forward to
their visits. The volunteers to the mentally ill group certainly
play a vital role in helping to normalise their lives. Their
contribution is one that will make a significant difference to the
lives of our patients.
Besides adding a bright ray of hope
and sunshine to our patients' daily lives, you will find
volunteering an enriching and rewarding exercise.
Find out:
- Who can volunteer?
- What can I do and contribute as a volunteer?
- Why volunteer at IMH?
- How can I become a volunteer?
Who can volunteer?
Anyone above the age of 16 years and who has
the desire to help; either as an individual or as a group, can
volunteer at our hospital. You may also choose to help as a
volunteer during festive occasions only.
What can I do and
contribute as a volunteer?
- Conduct social and recreational activities such as indoor and
outdoor games, singing, and dancing, karaoke, drama, and outings
to places of interest.
- Help in rehabilitative activities e.g. arts and craft,
grooming, basic social skills, painting, teaching patients the use
of public amenities and taking public transport.
- Plan, organise or participate in hospital ad hoc projects for
patients' activities.
- Spend time with patients. This include keeping patients
company by talking to them or taking a walk with them and
providing a listening ear.
Myths about the mentally ill
Myth 1:
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Fact:
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Mental illness should be hidden as it cannot be treated
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Even serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia can be treated with professional help and medicine. As with many illnesses, the earlier it is spotted and treated, the better the chances of recovery.
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| Myth 2: |
Fact: |
Mentally ill individuals are unstable and violent.
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Such individuals may experience episodes when they are acutely unwell. During this period, rather than being violent or dangerous, they are more likely to be perplexed by their experiences and fearful of others.
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| Myth 3: |
Fact: |
Only mentally ill people see psychiatrists.
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Sometimes, people just need professional help to solve their problems.
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| Myth 4: |
Fact: |
The mentally ill can never find a job outside as they remain unproductive.
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With treatment including skills training, recovering patients can re-integrate back the community to find and hold suitable jobs.
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Why volunteer at IMH?
 |
“The experience I am getting as a volunteer in
IMH is new and refreshing, and somewhat different from
other kinds of volunteer work I have engaged in. To me,
volunteering at IMH are more challenging, it brings me a very
great sense of fulfillment and meaning. With activities
introduced by volunteers, patients get to talk to external
parties, see new faces and learn new games. This greatly
impacted their usual dull routine and brings them lots of fun
and laughter. Nowadays, the patients look forward to the
regular visiting days and during the days when they are alone;
they will continue to play the games that volunteers taught
them amongst themselves.“
- Apple Huang, President
of Achievers
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“Initially some students were skeptical and
apprehensive when informed of the CIP at IMH. However, on the
actual day, it was encouraging to see the students interact
enthusiastically with the patients and it was clear that they
have cast aside their pre-existing misconceptions. Overall it
was an enriching and beneficial session for the
students.”
- Desmon Lim, teacher of River Valley
High |
| |
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As part of Esplanade’s community outreach
effort for the Huayi-Chinese Festival of Arts, a Chinese
percussion workshop was conducted for our patients who had the
chance to drum up their spirits and showcase their
talents.
“It was good seeing the delight on the faces of
the patients…and how they enjoyed themselves trying out the
various types of percussions. The smiles on their faces make
our work all worth it!”
-Veronica Goh, Manager,
Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, The Esplanade
Co Ltd |
| |
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“The colours, textures, shapes & lines of
the mural painted walls
resonate with Gap Inc’s fashion
philosophy. The colours aim to create a therapeutic & a
hopeful ambience in IMH. Giving Time, Giving Money, Giving
Hope is Gap Inc’s belief behind making a difference to the IMH
patients through the mural paintings. Through our paintings,
we want to make that difference!”
- Gap
International Sourcing Pte Ltd,
S E Asia Regional
Office |
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How can I become a volunteer?
You can make a difference in the lives of our patients! Here are the different ways you can do so:
1. Drop us an email at volunteers@imh.com.sg with your full name, NRIC, age, email address and contact number, or
2. Complete the application form in the volunteer brochure and send it back to us.
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