Dementia and other
Mental Health

When Lee Kuan Yew passed away in March 2015, the pioneer generation lost an old friend. They missed him very much. On the funeral day, many grassroots organisations fetched the people to various locations to send him off.

I was at the Commonwealth MRT Station the day. I saw many elder women getting down the buses and wanted to join the crowds. They asked me where to watch. I was not sure. Someone said that it was at the side of the road at the MRT Station. I walked pass the overhead bridge towards the Station. I thought I could have a better view, but both the sides were blocked.

Someone might miss him too much that suffered from delusional disorder. The person posted a picture on Internet. There was a rainbow at the Marina Bay.

I was a volunteer at Woodbridge Hospital from 1980. I was off and on at the mental hospital until it moved 12 years later. I then stopped see the mental-illed persons. Some of them were too upset, or worried, or depressed, or stressed. Delusional disorder is also a mental illness.

When the rainbow picture was widely spreading, some people thought that they saw a god or a celestial being.

But very soon, there were people found that the Gardens by the Bay were not on the picture!

I wished that that person was suffered from delusional disorder temporary and was well now.

Fake news? (Rainbow)


Soon later, I read an article describing Singapore was a small fishing village when it was independent in 1965.

I was shocked!
When I was at the Primary School in 1950s, I learned that Singapore was "Gibraltar of the East".
We stayed near the seaside when I was young. There were manual ship building factories, but no fishing village.
I sometimes watched the documentary video on Internet about Singapore. Singapore was a busy city even before Second World War. How come Singapore suddenly became a small fishing village in 1965?

I was sad and sorry. We may suffer from dementia when we are old.
In October 2007, I attended a talk of "Writing Press Release" by Brother Han at Hainan Hwee Kuan. He shared with us his years' experience.
I loved essay writing since I was young. I spent many years writing press release for various associations when I grew up. I learned from my experience. I was later able to write press release that the many newspapers willing to publish.
I was very thankful and respectful to Brother Han after picking up so many tips.

I was sorry that Brother Han was so old seven years later that he suffered from dementia!
He was a very experienced newsman. He should be aware of the history of Singapore. But when suffered from dementia, everything lost.

Brother Han passed away in August 2016.
Might be his friend reminded him. He finally remembered that Singapore was not a small fishing village before he passed away. I was glad to know he was well again.

From the Post Cards

1960 Chinatown

1955 Nanyang University


20.07.2017