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‘Crazy, weird, scary’: Survey unveils negative labels youths associate with mental illness SINGAPORE — Researchers have called for regular and compulsory education on mental health for youths, in the wake of a study that found a large proportion of this group having misconceptions of mental illness. Almost half (44.5 per cent) of 940 teenage students polled attached negative and pejorative labels to people with mental illness. “Crazy”, “weird”, “scary”, “stupid” and “dangerous” were among the words that came to mind then the respondents heard the term “mental illness”, reported the study, which was presented at the Frontiers in Mental Health symposium organised by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and Nanyang Technological University’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine on Tuesday (March 6). Some 46.2 per cent of the respondents, who were aged between 14 and 18, also said they would be “very embarrassed” if they were diagnosed with a mental illness, while nearly a quarter (22.7 per cent) said they would not want others to know if their relative were mentally ill.
Many still steer clear of people with mental illness: Poll, Singapore News Even as more people are seeking outpatient treatment at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), more than five in 10 respondents in a recent survey indicated they are unwilling to live with, live nearby or work with a person with a mental health condition. The survey, which is the first of its kind by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS), found that most people agree that more needs to be done to reduce societal stigma, yet they are also reluctant to accept them on an individual level. In the survey of 1,796 people conducted last year, six in 10 people said they believe that mental health conditions are caused by a lack of self-discipline and willpower, while half believe that persons with mental health conditions should not be given any responsibility. But seven in 10 respondents acknowledged that persons with mental health conditions experience stigma and discrimination in their daily lives, and eight in 10 said they believe the best therapy is for them to be included in society.
What is Mental Illness A mental illness is a disturbance of the mind that impairs the way we think, feel and behave. It affects our daily activities, as well as impact the lives of family members and friends. Mood and anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses.
Study: S'poreans think mental illness is sign of personal weakness, Latest Singapore News She struggled with schizophrenia in 2008. Miss Chan Lishan, 32, was not aware of her mental disorder then - not even when she trespassed into the Orange Valley Nursing Home in Thomson and was arrested. She went there believing that it was a convent and becoming a nun was the key to her survival. The former philosophy research scholar at the National University of Singapore told The New Paper: "I believe that if my family, my friends and I had been more aware of schizophrenia, then I would have got early treatment. "Unless you know of, lived with or worked with someone with mental illness, you wouldn't be able to feel empathy and understand that it is not a weakness but a medical issue."
Seeking Help For Mental Issues Can Be Affordable In Singapore Do you feel often sad and irritable? Have excessive anxieties? Are you unable to cope with everyday activities and problems? If these apply to you, do you have a mental health issue or are you just stressed out at school and work? We get it, it’s hard to draw that line for yourself, let alone coming to terms with the fact that you have a real mental problem before seeking help. NCSS - What we can do to address stigma The Movement’s desired outcomes for employers are: Provide a safe and supportive environment for disclosure Adopt more inclusive hiring practices and put in place workplace accommodations Equip colleagues with confidence and knowledge to support persons with mental health conditions In May 2018, a WorkWell Leaders Workgroup comprising private and public sector leaders was formed to champion workplace wellbeing as a leadership priority. As its first collective action, the workgroup rallied employers to support the Beyond the Label campaign in the workplace on 10 October 2018, World Mental Health Day. These employers also pledged their commitment to the cause beyond the day.
Am I alcohol dependent? If you find it difficult to enjoy yourself or relax without having a drink, it’s possible you’ve become dependent on alcohol. The NHS estimates that just under one in 10 (8.7%) men in the UK and one in 20 (3.3%) UK women show signs of alcohol dependence (sometimes known as “alcoholism”)1.Being dependent on alcohol means you feel you’re not able to function without it, that drinking becomes an important, or sometimes the most important, factor in your life. Important: Get medical advice before you stop drinking if you have physical withdrawal symptoms e.g. shaking, sweating, nausea before you have your first drink of the day. It can be dangerous to stop drinking too quickly without proper support if you are experiencing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Are you alcohol dependent?
6 common mental disorders affecting Singaporeans today and where you can go to get help, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore Pexels There’s been an increase in the number of Singapore adults who have suffered from a mental disorder in their lifetimes, the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) said recently. According to a 2016 study, one in seven people in Singapore have experienced specific mood, anxiety, or alcohol use disorders in their lifetime, up from roughly one in eight six years prior. Read also: 1 in 7 people in Singapore have experienced a mental disorder – and some millennials are more susceptible to mood and alcohol-related ones
IMH study reveals stigma surrounding mental illness, Health News SINGAPORE - Nine in 10 people believe that those with a mental illness "could get better if they wanted to", a new study by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) has found. Half of those surveyed said that such problems are "a sign of personal weakness", while six in 10 also said that such people are "unpredictable". Researchers said that such stigmatising attitudes may lead people to avoid seeing a doctor and getting diagnosed for fear of being labelled as mentally ill. The fact, however, is that problems such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and even alcohol abuse often have a biological basis, and can be treated by a health professional. IMH embarked on the $1 million study a year ago to find out how much Singaporeans know about mental illness. In addition to how they viewed those with such disorders, respondents were also asked if they could identify one of five common mental illnesses.
Self-imposed stigma compounds struggles of individuals with mental illness SINGAPORE: Individuals with mental illness often grapple with stigma or negative public perceptions about their conditions and their struggle can be compounded further through self-imposed stigma. “Self-imposed stigma is the process by which persons with mental illness accept the negative attitudes of others towards them, then internalise and apply these beliefs to themselves,” said Associate Professor Mythily Subramaniam, director of the Department of Research at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). “Examples of self-imposed stigma include endorsement of negative stereotypes held by the public such as ‘I am dangerous’, ‘I am weak’, or ‘I am ashamed that I have a mental illness’,” she said. Based on an 18-month study on 280 outpatients from IMH suffering from depression, schizophrenia, anxiety or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), researchers have found that self-imposed stigma may influence the impact of perceived stigma, quality of life, self-esteem and function.
More people in Singapore have experienced a mental disorder in their lifetime, study finds SINGAPORE — One in seven people in Singapore have experienced a mental disorder such as bipolar disorder or alcohol abuse in their lifetime, an increase from roughly one in eight several years ago. The top three mental disorders here were major depressive disorder, alcohol abuse and obsessive compulsive disorder. This is based on the finding of the second Singapore Mental Health Study, which started in 2016 and involved interviews with 6,126 Singaporeans and permanent residents. Read also Gen Y Speaks: What caring for my mum taught me about mental illness
Generalized anxiety disorder Overview It's normal to feel anxious from time to time, especially if your life is stressful. However, excessive, ongoing anxiety and worry that are difficult to control and interfere with day-to-day activities may be a sign of generalized anxiety disorder. It's possible to develop generalized anxiety disorder as a child or an adult. 1 in 7 people in Singapore have experienced a mental disorder – and some millennials are more susceptible to mood and alcohol-related ones, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore Around one in seven people in Singapore have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lives. Singapore Press Holdings A study has found that more people in Singapore have experienced mental disorders at some point in their lives. The 2016 study found that one in seven people in Singapore (13.9 per cent) have experienced specific mood, anxiety, or alcohol use disorders in their lifetime. This proportion is an increase from roughly one in eight (12 per cent) six years prior. The second Singapore Mental Health Study (SMHS), which was released on Tuesday (Dec 11), was spearheaded by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), involving interviews with 6,126 Singaporeans and permanent residents.
There's no shame in mental illness, Singapore News Dr Radiah Salim remembers the old Woodbridge Hospital as a dark and scary place. The old mental hospital was sited off Yio Chu Kang Road and, as a child, she went there often to visit a patient - her schizophrenic elder sister. "The corridors were dark and dingy and you would see all these 'gila' people there," she says, using the Malay word for mad. "Some of my sister's attacks were so bad that they had to tie her down and give her electro convulsive therapy." Her sister is not the only family member living with a mental illness. Her paternal grandmother, more than half a dozen relatives on her father's side, three of her second cousins, and a nephew lived or live with mental disorders too.