Centre hosts awareness day
The event was aimed at highlighting the plight of mentally ill people and the relationship with drug abuse.
The Gordonia centre held a mental illness and older person’s day on October 25.
The event took place at the Gordonia Hall on Berea Street in Betrams. The event was aimed at highlighting the plight of mentally ill people and the relationship with drug abuse.
“We highlight the importance of drug awareness and testing. We also conduct a number of community outreach programmes,” said Ms Freda Dibetso, from the South African National Council on Alcoholism (SANCA). She said they also help with the rehabilitation of people in need. “We direct people towards the help they need but only when the people themselves feel they are ready,” said Ms Dibetso.
The event was attended by Ms Sinnah Hlaka, who is a social worker at the Gordonia Centre, who spoke about the elderly.
“We need to promote independent living for the elderly. Sometimes the old-age homes do not want to accommodate them and you find they have no family support, which is very important at their age,” said Ms Hlaka. She said places such as Gordonia serve as a bridge between the families and hospitals, as some of the elderly are rejected by their families once in, or out of, hospital care.
