‘Cases reviewed’ when children of caregivers with mental illness hurt

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) handles each year fewer than 20 cases — about 10 per cent of all referred cases — involving parents or caregivers with mental illness and violent behaviour.

And in cases where the children come into harm’s way or if death occurs, the MSF will conduct a formal review, said its minister Chan Chun Sing in Parliament yesterday.

Mr Chan was responding to Member of Parliament Janil Puthucheary (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), who had asked under what circumstances the ministry would get involved in caregiving arrangements for children whose parent, guardian or caregiver has mental illness and a history of violent behaviour.

He also asked whether there was a need for a formal inquiry when a death or injury occurs. His questions came in the wake of a case involving a 32-year-old single mother with schizophrenia who pushed her son out of a window, causing his death in June last year. The woman was sentenced to 10 years’ jail last month.

Mr Chan said there are two processes in conducting formal reviews — one for cases not under the ministry’s child protection service and another for children under residential care. “We will look through our own processes to see where we can tighten up or where there might have been lapses and we will take action accordingly,” he said.

He also explained that the ministry has three levels of care arrangements for children, with priority given to having them continue to stay with their immediate family or kin. If this is not possible, the MSF will look into putting the child into a foster home.

As a last resort, the child will be placed in an institutional home.

“Like in many other countries, we have found that the results for the child is more positive if you are able to encourage the child to stay in a homely environment in the community, rather than a residential, institutional environment, which is always artificial at its best,” said Mr Chan.

He added that the MSF is not facing constraints in finding foster homes for children who have been separated from their families, but is encouraging more to come forward and provide foster care. ROBIN CHOO