Getting Help - Over The Rainbow

OCD in top three mental disorders, sufferers seeking help later Study shows Obsessive Compulsive Disorder affects one in 28 people here and sufferers are delaying treatment longer Afraid that someone would break into his house, he would check the locks on his front gate and door. He was so anxious about making a mistake and letting a burglar slip through that he would repeat this 50 to 60 times. 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

7 Avenues to Get Help In Singapore For Mental Health Issues According to a study done by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) in 2010,12% of Singapore's population has had mental health disorders in their lifetime. It led me to think about what I would do if a friend of mine was struggling with a mental health issue. As a Singaporean, I was disappointed to find out that I actually have no idea where someone can get help if they have a mental health issue. Searching on the internet gave me only a few options, which I felt was insufficient. So after further research online and talking to a few mental health therapists, I decided to write this article to answer the following question: How to get help in Singapore for mental health issues? I am not only referring to people with severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia, severe anxiety or depression.

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.

The stigma of depression: Those who suffer in silence SINGAPORE: When Madam Junainah Eusope was first diagnosed with depression almost 15 years ago, shame was the first thing she felt. “I asked the doctor what illness I had, and he said it was a mental illness. And that’s when it hit me,” she recounted. “I used to visit patients in Woodbridge Hospital, and I used to laugh at them. Was I now one of them?” she said. Singapore Association for Mental Health : Mental Wellness for All 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.

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.

She helps spot those with undiagnosed mental illness, Latest Singapore News She was arrested for trespassing in a nursing home in 2008. Ms Chan Li Shan said: "I was lost. I was looking for a church so that I could become a nun and I walked into a nursing home by accident." The staff ended up calling the police because "I think they really wanted to help me". Fast Facts on Mental Health in Singapore 51% of mental illness patients suffer from a chronic physical illness, because there is a link between the twoDepression, alcohol abuse and obsessive compulsive disorder are the top 3 most common disorders in Singapore29 The age at which the majority of mental illnesses occur5.8% of the adult population in Singapore has suffered from depression at some point in their lives Symptoms of top 3 disorders Depression: loses interest in daily life, has feelings of hopelessness and thoughts of suicide Alcohol Abuse: has to drink more and more alcohol to feel its effects as tolerance for the substance increases, experiences sweating and other withdrawal symptoms when not drinking Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Obsessive: has persistent and irrational thoughts, impulses or images that cause anxiety or distress like an overwhelming fear of germs and dirt Compulsive: repeats actions like checking and rechecking locks several times over

More teens call SOS about mental health problems, Singapore News Awareness of mental health issues such as depression is gaining among one group: teenagers. In two years, the number of teens who called a suicide hotline asking for help with their mental health problems has doubled. "Mental health problems highlighted by teens included depression and bipolar mood disorders," said Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) executive director Christine Wong. Last year, SOS received about 550 such calls from those aged 10 to 19, a fifth of the 2,680 calls from that age group - a sharp rise from the 244 in 2014, when there were 1,767 calls from people in that group. 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

Awareness about depression reduces stigma, Letters on the Web News The increasing incidences of depression in youth is indeed a growing concern (An escape room to learn about depression; Jan 9). The number of young people aged 10 to 19 who called a hotline asking for help with their mental health problems more than doubled from 244 in 2014 to 550 in 2015. The suicide rate for youth under 19 has also risen in recent years due to mental health challenges and stress experienced in schools, at home and in relationships. The escape room initiative from the National Youth Council and Campus PSY to increase awareness of depression is commendable. The Singapore Association for Mental Health has been addressing youth mental health issues for many years. YouthReach, a programme employing a personalised family-centred model for psycho-social interventions, since 2006 has worked with children and youth who have been identified with emotional or psychological issues.

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.