MENTAL patients are given a second chance through a job training programme at the Institute of Mental Health's (IMH) Secret Recipe cafe, launched on Monday.

There, the patients undergo a three-month programme, picking up skills such as beverage and food prepartion and customer service, while earning $3 an hour.

An occupation therapist or therapy assistant will be based there to guide the patients and to assess their progress. After they leave the programme, IMH will continue to help them with job matching and placement.

Engaging the patients in work not only improves their activity and social contacts, but also boosts their self-esteem and integration into society, said chairman of the medical board at IMH Rathi Mahendran.

The project is one of the latest in a range of job training opportunities already offered by IMH, in areas such as carwashing, retail and cleaning.

The institute also celebrated the nation's fourth Occupational Therapy Day during the launch of the cafe, with chairman of the National Kidney Foundation Gerard Ee as guest-of-honour.