Solitary woman battling schizophrenia gets help

KUCHING: Hope Place Kuching recently extended a helping hand to Choo Yieng Ting, a 56-year-old woman with schizophrenia, who has been battling both mental illness and financial hardship alone.

“Living in MJC, Choo’s struggle for survival is exacerbated by her inability to secure employment due to her condition, which she has managed for over 20 years.

“Choo, once an administrative clerk, saw her life take a drastic turn at 30 when her mental health began to deteriorate. This led to a cascade of setbacks, including the cancellation of her planned marriage.

“Now, she lives alone, with her only lifeline being treated as an outpatient individual at Sarawak General Hospital and the social welfare aid she receives,” it said in a press statement yesterday (Oct 31).

Though her siblings had supported her financially for many years, this assistance has lessened recently. Currently, Choo’s sister covers her utility bills and has allowed her to stay in a family-owned shop lot, but other expenses have fallen solely on Choo.

Her monthly support from social welfare department is a meagre RM350, which barely meets her basic needs. She previously shared her home with a friend who had moved out, leaving her entirely alone.

Hope Place is has committed to providing Choo with basic food aid, helping to alleviate some of her financial burdens. But the needs remain pressing.

In the spirit of solidarity, Hope Place welcomes any donations to support individuals who are gravely in need of help. Contributions can be made directly via bank transfer to MBB: 511289001160, or donors may visit Hope Place’s Facebook page for the Sarawak Pay / S PAY GLOBAL QR code.

For more information, Hope Place can be reached at 082-505987 or 013-5672775, and receipts will be provided upon request.