Mr Tharmalingam was diagnosed with Schizophrenia in 2006 and had a history of alcohol dependence. Having little understanding of his mental health condition, he ceased treatment for many years. As a result, he experienced deterioration in his interpersonal and family relationships as well as lost his ability to focus at work. Due to his drinking habits, he was not able to hold a stable job.

In 2017, he suffered a stroke and was admitted to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. Showing signs of paranoia, he was then transferred to the Institute for Mental Health. For two months, Mr Tharmalingam underwent the inpatient rehabilitation programme and his mental health condition became more stable. Through the programme, he learnt basic self-care skills and was motivated to regain employment.

In 2018, he was referred to Anglican Care Centre (ACC) (Hougang) supervised care programme for his continued journey to recovery. ACC (Hougang) provided support for his vocational training as well as engaged him in programmes which helped him better understand his mental health condition and equipped him with skills to cope with his symptoms. Abstaining from alcohol, he progressively worked towards readiness for employment.

After a year of preparation and searching for suitable jobs, he finally acquired certification for security work and secured a part-time security officer job. Since then, he has attained full-time employment and has been serving at his current job for two years. His relationship with his family has also improved.

Mr Tharmalingam shared, “My recovery journey has been long and challenging. With support from my family, employer and ACC (Hougang), I have made vast progress towards recovery and look forward to returning home!”