Geel Revisited: After Centuries of Mental Rehabilitation - Essay Example

My neighborhood has the capability of taking on a similar role as the Geel because members of my community are ready to embrace the realities of mental illness rather than fear being associated with it. In addition, individuals who have recovered successfully can go back to functioning as able members of the community and can now participate in community development.

My neighborhood is suitable for the fostering of the mentally ill because does not stigmatize them. We have learned to live with the mentally ill because there is a family with three children who are all mentally ill. These are people we have grown up with and our parents have seen them grow up thus we accepted them and they have become part of our community. Interacting with them during family functions made us realize that they are not as bad as people make them out to be. In addition, we have learned to deal with our mentally ill friends in a patient manner. They require special care and we can show flexibility in programs of fostering other mentally ill individuals should we get an opportunity to host them. However, my neighborhood does not have a platform to provide social opportunities for clients as well as chances for meaningful work. Setting up these programs would put them in a better position to foster the mentally ill since they will be able to be useful in the community.