Ensuring safety of residents a priority for the government

Response to parliamentary question on neighbours with behavioural or mental health problems who cause nuisance, inconvenience or pose hazards and dangers

Question

Ms Joan Pereira: To ask the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth with reference to neighbours with behavioural or mental health problems that cause nuisance, inconvenience or pose hazards and dangers (a) what measures are in place to resolve the problems expeditiously; and (b) whether regulatory and enforcement powers need to be strengthened for the Community Mediation Centre and other related Government agencies, for the safety and well-being of residents.

Response

1. Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth: The safety of residents is a priority for the government, and the Police will not hesitate to intervene where there is a threat to life and property.
2. However, not all cases are of this severity, and there are other avenues to resolve these issues. Parties can seek mediation through a neutral third party, such as a grassroots leader, or approach the Community Mediation Centre (CMC) for help. Persons who suspect that their neighbours are displaying disturbing behaviours due to mental health issues can contact Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), which will assess and make the necessary referral for medical assistance and social support. Agencies such as HDB and PA, grassroots leaders, voluntary welfare organisations, and the AIC will come together to find a sustainable solution with the parties involved.
3. Where community-based solutions are not sufficient, we have other laws and procedures that allow parties to deal with persons with mental health conditions who are posing disruption to the community.
   • If the person is becoming a risk to himself, or poses a danger to others, the Police can apprehend the person and take him to a doctor. The doctor will assess the person’s mental health, and send the person to a psychiatric institution for treatment if necessary.
   • For intractable cases where parties are unable to resolve their disputes through voluntary mediation, parties can file a case with the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT) as a last resort. The CDRT judge can order the parties to attend mandatory mediation or attend counselling, or fix the case for hearing if mediation and counselling are not suitable.
   • If a respondent breaches the CDRT’s order, his affected neighbour can apply to CDRT for a Special Direction (SD) for the respondent to comply with the order. The CDRT can order a third party, such as the respondent’s family member, to enter into a bond with conditions that the respondent goes for psychiatric assessment or treatment. If the respondent breaches the SD and is convicted, the court can call for a psychiatric assessment to determine whether it would be appropriate to make a Mandatory Treatment Order for the respondent to undergo psychiatric treatment.