Shirley Yeung, the Integrated Community Centre for Mental Wellness, ICCMW

Hello to the RTHK audience, I am Shirley Yeung Sui-lng. I have schizophrenia, which I have been living with for almost 25 years. I want to share the difficulties that patients face when thinking about recovery. Will I ever get completely better? Does continuing with medication mean I have not recovered? Is relapse a possibility? Is my mind different from others? Can I understand mental illness purely from a psychological perspective? My answers to these questions are positive. Recovery means achieving certain goals at various points in your life. In my childhood, I had a wonderful time living with my parents, brothers, and sister. We shared a close family relationship. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to attend school until I graduated from university. My mental illness began around the age of 24, in 1998. I experienced headaches and felt a lot of stress. I didn’t have many friends to share my feelings with. I became confused, believing that the advertisements on TV had special meanings. I felt as though secret police were monitoring me, and I was scared whenever I saw red lights or the color red, like on taxis. During that time, I felt deflated, had low self-esteem, and was sad, even refusing to take my medication. I was diagnosed with schizophrenia and eventually needed to be hospitalised at Kwai Chung Hospital. However, throughout my 25 years on the recovery journey, doctors, nurses, cross-professional caregivers, clinical psychologists, social workers, and peers have helped and encouraged me to grow. First, finding the right medications requires time and careful attention from clinical professionals. Some people worry about weight gain and stigma from the side effects of medications, which can lead them to quit taking them. From my experience, it is important to communicate your concerns and problems to the clinical teams. Trust and communication between professionals and patients are crucial. I regret that my insight into my illness was poor during its onset; I wasted valuable time in my youth. Fortunately, with the support of my family, medical team, and social workers, I learned how to cope with the illness and move toward recovery. I take my medications on time every day and continue to learn by attending educational classes, conferences, and reading to strengthen my coping skills. I have gained the self-confidence to face this serious mental illness, building my life like a puzzle that forms a clear picture with the help of various sources. What does recovery mean? Recovery means hope, building strength, advocacy, and peer support. You can be a unique individual and lead a meaningful life. Now, I actively share my story, knowledge, and lived experiences to contribute to society. I participate in self-help groups such as the Concord Mutual-Aid Club Alliance, where I share and listen to peers to overcome illness together . The theme of the Concord Mutual-Aid Club Alliance is 1.To promote and develop mutual help among the Alliance members. 2. To enhance the rehabilitation, rights and quality of life of its members3 To actively participate in events and issues concerning the rights of the mentally ill person. From my experience of taking anti Psychiatric drugs, we suggest Hospital Authority to increase more choices of new and efficiency medicines for patients. We also share our recovery story to reduce stigma and promote mental health to the public. I engage in advocacy work to voice our difficulties and rights to the government, legislative council, Hospital Authority, and the public. I would like to say that you are not alone to facing mental health. You can ask for help from our peers, professional support and family care. Last but not least, I hope you take care of your mental health. If you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask for help from us, ICCMW, doctors, or others. I choose the song "Imagine" by John Lennon. We are all the same and without boundaries. Thank you.