Shantialaya:

A place of healing

By Anne Abayasekara

The concept of a 'halfway house' for restora-tion of mental health and as a step towards re-entering society, is still not widely understood in Sri Lanka. When I visited the tranquil little house by the sea at Uswetakeiyawa in the company of a group who are regular visitors there and met with the staff and the two young men who are presently in residence, I was surprised that the place wasn't full to capacity. 

'Shantialaya' as it has been named, provides a healing environment for those who have recovered from mental or emotional breakdown. It is a halfway house between the hospital they have left and their re-emergence as full members of society, settling back into everyday life in their own homes and community.

Coming back to everyday life with its stresses and strains is a daunting prospect for anyone who has been hospitalised for any length of time, but much more so for those who have suffered any form of mental illness, primarily because of the wariness with which they are viewed by society and the stigma that is still attached to mental ill-health. Even their own families are seldom equipped to assist in completing the healing process. Investigation has shown that whatever causes the onset of emotional or mental illness, the repercussions on family life in terms of feelings of guilt, inadequacy, anger and frustration are such that unless considerable work can be done with the whole family, the home is usually not the most beneficial setting for "aftercare". This is the vital role that a halfway house like 'Shantialaya' plays: it provides rehabilitation within a "therapeutic community" that reaches out to the family as well. The two residents were knocking a football around along with their occupational therapist, Mr. Godage, who comes on three afternoons a week. It was quite evident that they had a good rapport with him and when I later talked with Mr. Godage, I saw that his professionalism and his genuine interest in his charges would certainly win their confidence. He plays with them, talks with them, instructs them in making things with their hands, accompanies them on walks along the beach. So does Mahinda, their friendly attendant. 

The resident matron, Mrs. Pathma Nanayakkara, oversees the regular routine of the two residents, interacts with them, takes them shopping with her and sometimes to the cinema. There is a lady to cook but Sanjiva and Danesh also help with the chores. Danesh is always willing to scrape the coconut. Both take turns at sweeping and tidying their shared bedroom and even the rest of the house. There is a sort of 'Family Room' where carrom and other board games are played. This is also the room in which their very caring Counsellor, Mrs. Ameena Mustapha, sees them every week. Danesh and Sanjiva both said they look forward to her weekly visit. Mrs. Mustapha is also available to parents and other family members who are encouraged to visit often and regularly. Local residents are also welcome. On the beach the two young men often strike up conversations with others enjoying a stroll on the sands. 

'Shantialaya' is the first halfway house to be set up by the Richmond Fellowship Lanka (RFL) which is affiliated to Richmond Fellowship International (RFI), a body that has over 30 affiliates in both developing and developed countries. Talking to the dedicated Secretary of RFL, Malini Balasingham, I learned that the purpose in setting up these halfway houses is that, "following on hospital treatment or custodial care, the vital component of rehabilitation is to safeguard the dignity of each participating individual and to shape informal and warm human relationships that typify a therapeutic community". Malini said that the difference between staff and residents is viewed as one of FUNCTION and not of VALUE.

The idea is to work towards helping residents to resolve conflict, to make their own decisions, to regain their self- confidence and self-worth, social skills and creativity, to relate well with others and to achieve a measure of satisfaction in their lives. Shantialaya has been set up as the RFL's Model Halfway House. It's only a beginning - Malini calls it "the first step in a journey of a thousand miles, till finally a network of such homes is established throughout the country". Malini herself donated the land on which 'Shantialaya' stands and another generous well-wisher donated Rs. 2 million to make the house a reality. It provides a homely atmosphere and an ideal environment for the kind of personal growth and the building of positive qualities of "ego strength" for those who are halfway to full recovery from the trauma of mental breakdown. Its facilities have to be paid for - it isn't free.

Accommodation, all basic amenities and all meals are provided. Residents are required to bring their own linen and necessary personal belongings. If there are any special requirements by way of diet supplements, residents are expected to bring them. Any medication prescribed by a resident's psychiatrist will be administered according to his/her instructions. 

'Shantialaya' has its own psychiatrist and an administrative secretary. A resident senior staff member will be on the premises to deal with any problems that may arise, in consultation with the Management Committee of 'Shantialaya'. The office of Richmond Fellowship Lanka is at 63/1, Thimbirigasyaya Road, Colombo 5 [Tel/Fax 590610] and initial formalities for admission to 'Shantialaya' have to be completed there. In the present situation in which our country sadly finds itself, there has, not surprisingly, been an escalation of mental ill-health. Efforts to deal with this have been uncoordinated, largely due to the absence of a properly worked-out national mental health plan. Families are often unable to cope with having a recovering mental patient back in their midst. They are untrained in ways that would be helpful to the patient. That is why the concept of halfway houses is so valuable. They supply a lifeline to both patient and family in the form of a suitable transit home that is focused on completing the healing process that was begun in hospital.

Something Mrs. Balasingham said in this connection impressed itself on my mind and it seems very relevant to repeat it here: "Fundamental to this concept is the belief that mental illness is just like any other illness. Recognized in time, treated suitably and followed up by a period of appropriate rehabilitation, recovery is well within the reach of numerous persons who would otherwise continue to be labelled as 'abnormal' and shunned by society for the rest of their lives." It is no small thing that Richmond Fellowship Lanka has achieved in doing something concrete and positive to give people this chance to rebuild their lives and become contributing members of society once more.

St. Patrick's College celebrates 150 years

Glowing 'Ruby' in the north

By Dr. Terrence Rohan Chinniah

Ceylon, which for nearly 300 years had been part of the Diocese of Cochin, was made an Apostolic Vicariate in 1835. At the request of the Catholics of Ceylon, Rome began to send European missionaries to Ceylon from 1842 and the first to arrive here was Fr. Horace Bettachini. This Italian oratorian was, in 1845, appointed titular Bishop of Torona and Coadjutor to Dr. Gaetano Antonio, Vicar Apostolic of Ceylon. Bishop Bettachini was also specially charged with the spiritual care of the Catholic northern part of Ceylon. Soon after his Episcopal Consecration, which took place in February 1846, he arrived in Jaffna to carry out his new duties. 

By then, the English schools of the Protestant Missions in Jaffna were about 25 years old and Catholic children were being attracted to them due to the lack of Catholic schools. To provide a good English education to the Catholics, Bishop Bettachini set his heart on establishing two schools in Jaffna itself, one for boys and the other for girls. Towards this end he set up the 'Jaffna Catholic Schools Society'.

In 1847, Ceylon was divided into the two Vicariates Apostolic of Colombo and Jaffna. On the invitation of Bishop Bettachini the first band of Oblate Missionaries arrived in Jaffna led by Fr. John Stephen Semeria, who was to succeed Bishop Bettachini later as Vicar Apostolic of Jaffna.

The Jaffna Boys' Catholic English School was officially opened in January 1850 with Patrick Foy, an Irish Catholic layman, as Principal, in a building that stood where the present day administration block of St. Patrick's College stands. 

At that time the school had 50 boys on the roll, and a teaching staff of two, inclusive of the Principal. In 1860 this grew to 81 day-scholars, 14 boarders from St. Mary's Boarding School and five orphans. 

By a common accord adopted by the School Commission and the Catholic Mission in Jaffna in 1861, the Catholic English schools were renamed the "Jaffna Boys' Seminary" and the "Jaffna Female Seminary". 

The teaching staff of the Jaffna Boys' Seminary in 1862 comprised Rev. Fr. J.C.Mola o.m.i, Superintendent, who taught the Holy Scriptures, Philology, English Literature and Geography in addition to his duties of general supervision, Brother P.J.Conway, Principal, Mr. Joseph and Mr. G. Bastian, the Monitors, Brothers J. J. Brown, A.M.Bennet, R.R.Dowling and Messrs. Arthur Fletcher and John Bastian.

Under the direction of Brother Conway the Jaffna Boys' Seminary made great strides and succeeded in 1862 itself at the first 'Local Examination' ever to be held in Ceylon. The successful candidate was J. M. Kavanagh, who later became a teacher in the Catholic Boys' School in Trincomalee. 

History was created in 1866, when Lopez Manuel, who later became an Inspector of Schools, passed out first in the Order of Merit at the Local Examination. He obtained the highest marks in English and Geography and did brilliantly well in Euclid. The school thus established its reputation as one of the best in the island within 16 years of establishment.

Around 1878, leading Catholics of Jaffna led the agitation for higher education. This resulted in Bishop Bonjean, amalgamating the Preparatory Ecclesiastical Seminary and the Jaffna Boys' Seminary under the name St. Patrick's College in November 1880, and applying to the Department of Public Instruction for its registration, as a complete high school under the Revised Code. The registration was granted without difficulty, as the school had the necessary qualified staff.

The College was christened St. Patrick's College and formally inaugurated on January 10, 1881, by Bishop Bonjean. Rev. Fr. J. R. Smythe, an erstwhile member of the Ceylon Civil Service, was appointed Principal of the College. 

From then on, the College developed by leaps and bounds in all fields. The library was opened in 1884. Short hand and book-keeping courses were begun in 1889. Surveying and levelling, architectural and mechanical drawing and typewriting were introduced as early as 1901. 

1911 saw the College becoming the proud owner of a fully equipped science laboratory. A powerhouse and workshop were established in 1913. A new chemistry laboratory was built in 1914. The chapel was built and blessed in 1930. The new physics laboratory was completed in 1931. A new hall and the new library were opened in 1935.

Since St. Patrick's was excelling in both education and sports, pupils flocked from all over the island. This demand necessitated its further expansion. Hence the foundations for Greater St. Patrick's were laid in 1913. 

Being the leading college in Ceylon heading the overseas list, St. Patrick's became first in Ceylon for the sixth consecutive year in the Matriculation Results in 1935 and once again in 1937.

The Matthews Block, which is portrayed, in the stamp issued by the Government of Sri Lanka to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the College, was opened on April 12, 1950 by Dudley Senanayake, as part of the centenary celebrations of the College. 

St. Patrick's College reached its zenith in whatever activity it undertook by the middle of the 20th century. This together with the strict code of discipline made all parents, immaterial of race or religion, wish to send their children to St. Patrick's to study, play and work together as one happy and peaceful family. The introduction of the conscience clause, by which no one other than Catholics were allowed to be present at religious instructions, except at the request of their parents made the College non-sectarian. St. Patrick's had a vision for the times and laid the foundation for the education of thousands of youngsters of all races and religions who later became the leaders and backbone of the country. 

The long list of persons honoured each year on prize-givings shows clearly how many old Patricians are involved in shaping the administrative, political, intellectual, health, cultural and economic life of the people of this country.

St. Patrick's College had been a ruby in its chosen field. From early days the ruby has been the jewel of jewels - the ratnaraj. 

Not the attraction of the filmy nacre of the ocean pearl, the glittering purity of the starry diamond, the cool richness of the alluring emerald or the crystal perfection of the blue sapphire has ever rivalled the crimson fire of the regal ruby.

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