The Health | june, 2019
22
Junior
Caring
for
her son
Haliza speaks out about his
son’s compromised mental
health
5
8-year old Haliza Abdul Halim is the
founder of a non-governmental organisa-
tion (NGO) called Pertubuhan Kebajikan
Baitul Fiqh (PBKF). PBKF was established
as a home to shelter and help poor single
mothers, teenagers who have been involved
in various social problems, as well as orphan care.
Her fuel to help
Although Haliza founded PBKF as a way to support
the less fortunate with all kinds of social problems,
she has done so because of her personal experience
as a caregiver to her son. This mother of five has a son
suffering from unspecified schizophrenia.
“I have five children, most are all grown up and
married. The youngest however, is currently 19 years
old and has been diagnosed with unspecified schizo-
phrenia. I have been taking care of him lately by myself
since my husband’s passing.”
The diagnosis
Haliza is not only a mother of five but also the founder of a non-governmental organisation which helps
troubled women.
I have five children, most are all grown up and
married. The youngest however, is currently 19
years old and has been diagnosed with unspecified
schizophrenia. I have been taking care of him lately
by myself since my husband’s passing.”
“It all started when he started getting bullied at
school. We actually had no clue about the bullying – he
would just come home and tell us that he doesn’t want
to return to school anymore. He was fifteen then,”
she starts.
“The very first time he exhibited symptoms, he told
us he wanted to leave the house at night because he
said his friends were being bullied. This was close to
midnight mind you, so we forbade him to leave. This
led to him crying. From then on, he began talking to
himself. It often sounded like he was scolding some-
one or somewhat defending himself from a scolding,”
says Haliza.
“I was utterly shocked when the doctor diagnosed
him with unspecified schizophrenia. The doctors at
the hospital still do not know on which spectrum his
schizophrenia falls on since the diagnosis.”
Haliza’s youngest son used to be a jovial kid, how-
ever he has become more reserved since, according
to her.
The definition of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a long-term mental
disorder of a type involving a breakdown in
the relation between thought, emotion, and
behaviour – leading to faulty perception,
inappropriate actions and feelings,
withdrawal from reality and personal
relationships into fantasy and delusion, and
a sense of mental fragmentation.
by episodes in which the patient is
unable to distinguish between real and
unreal experiences. As with any illness,
the severity, duration and frequency of
symptoms can vary. Symptoms fall into
several categories:
Positive psychotic symptoms:
Hallucinations, such as hearing voices,
paranoid delusions and exaggerated
The misconceptions
or distorted perceptions, beliefs and
The complexity of schizophrenia may help
behaviours.
Vincent van Gogh
explain why there are misconceptions
Negative symptoms: A loss or a
was one of the most
about the disease. Schizophrenia does
decrease in the ability to initiate plans,
famous people in
not mean split personality or multiple-
speak, express emotion or find pleasure.
personality. Most people with schizophrenia history who had
Disorganization symptoms: Confused
are not dangerous or violent. They also are struggled with
and disordered thinking and speech,
not homeless nor do they live in hospitals. schizophrenia.
trouble with logical thinking and
Most people with schizophrenia live with
sometimes bizarre behaviour or abnormal
family, in group homes or on their own.
movements.
Impaired cognition: Problems with attention,
The symptoms
concentration, memory and declining educational
When the disease is active, it can be characterized
performance.
“He does things like any normal person would. He
understands the tasks given to him, he keeps a close
relationship with all of his siblings, and he is a very
smart student. He was home schooled for PT3 and
scored good results,” Haliza expresses lovingly.
“However, the only complication he truly has is
that he talks to himself and when he doesn’t take his
medication, he has a habit to hit his head.”
Getting the support
Haliza first went to Subang Jaya Medical Centre for
his medical appointments till someone informed
me about the Malaysian Mental Health Association
(MMHA).
“Associate Professor Dr Ng Chong Guan is his
doctor, he is also the Vice President of MMHA. I
became a member of MMHA and attended all the
courses and programmes on how to be a caregiver.”
From MMHA, another person recommended
Haliza to place her son in a day-care at University
Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).
“The day-care has a really interesting programme,
it teaches them soft skills. He learns how to knit rugs
and cook. They would make sandwiches and other
foods which they would then sell at a special café at
UMMC. This café is actually ran by people living with
mental disorders. I also sometimes send him for draw-
ing therapy which I feel helps him.”
Being a caregiver
Living and caring for a son with schizophrenia is no
easy business, however it has helped Haliza to become
a better mother and caregiver to her son. She lamented
the tough experience she had bringing up her son, but
as time goes by, she felt thankful that she was given
the opportunity to take care of him as she does now.
“When I started taking care of him, it felt really
tough and challenging. However it has become easier.
He is going into his fourth year since his diagnosis
now, and I feel better and more thankful to have him
in my life.”
“In just a bit, I’m driving him to UMMC. The day-
care are taking them to a golf course to play some
golf! – I hope he has a lot of fun,” smiles Haliza softly.
Haliza now operates PBKF, located in SS14, Subang
Jaya. The establishment helps to facilitate and
rehabilitate poor single mothers as well as teenagers
involved with various social problems. — The Health