CE2 is a really new exciting milestone for me (and I think for every other yr 2 OT student too!). New experiences and new expectations, I really do hope that CE2 will go well. This time, I have been posted to a mental health setting.

At first, I thought there wouldn't be anything to reflect on because it was a rather slow-paced day, I didn't really do much and had quite a bit of free time in between. What we do in MH is so different from the never-ending running around in the acute hospitals!

However, thinking deeper, I have gained one or two important insights based on what we saw today.

1. Today, we were given an opportunity to be oriented to the skills training programme. This is a programme to assess, train and engage patients in productive activity before they go to work. Involving contract work, patients carry out crafts like pottery, candle-making, jewelry-making; do woodworking (to make beautiful stools), paper-making, gardening etc. The products made are sold comercially so that whatever is earned can go back into obtaining materials for the continuation of the programme for patients. While many of us take craft-work as simple or rather pointless, when we analyze the activities, it is amazing to realize what really goes into doing that particular craft, what makes one craft suitable for a person but not another and even how the person's skills can improve because of the craft. It really reminds me to give thanks for the abilities that God has given me, however insignificant they seem, for they truly contribute quietly alot to what makes me able to function in this world.

Another thing that was really amazing is the workmanship of the patients. Despite their conditions, either through practice or because of natural abilities (or capable OTs and OTAs =]), their products were really beautiful - sellable, if looking at it commercially. Their clay work was intricate and lovely-coloured. It is a great mistake to stigmatise MH sufferers just because of their conditions because they are able just like anyone else, it is just that they need help to fight their condition.

2. This brings me to the 2nd insight, gained while reading the book, entitled 'Even when she forgot my name'. This book is written by Wong Chai Kee, a Singaporean, about his experiences with his mother who had Alzheimer's disease. From this book, I realized that no matter what mental health condition a person is suffering from, or how severe it is, the unique person he/she is, is still there. Very often, we view MH patients as 'mad', no longer normal, and occasionally we unknowingly strip them of their rightful title of a unique individual. However, this book allowed me to see that no matter how unnatural the person's actions seem (or 'demented', is this too degratory a word?) it is the person's spiritual self/soul struggling to battle against the condition of the body. It is because of their physical condition that their unique self/soul which desires to be normal needs help to be expressed physically. So even if there were to be a person seems as though he is like a wooden-board, the innate self/soul still has the need to be treated as a person, to be treated with dignity.

3. I nearly forgot to talk about my fears. So far I have not met my supervisor, and probably won't meet him till thursday. Plus I can only find out more about the service that I am attached to on thursday too. That kind of places me slightly behind the rest. I do hope that I can catch up and that I will be able to do well..especially since my coursemates seem are so much more capable than I am..

It's time to sleep. Good night, sweet dreams, it's a new day tomorrow.

Signing off,
Charms

P.S. Now it is almost time to sleep. Just have to wait for my uniform to finish washing and then iron it.

P.S. It is bad uniform day. My pants are really tight and the top button of my new blouse fell off at lunchtime. :(