7 in 10 say they are stigmatised, over half have problems joining community events: Survey
By Janice Tai and Melody Zaccheus, The Sunday Times, 9 Oct 2016
Seven in 10 people with mental illness believe they are stigmatised by society, while slightly more than half have problems joining community events.
These are some of the key findings of the first government survey on the well-being of those with mental health issues.
Describing the findings as worrying, social workers are calling for more to be done to raise awareness of the problem.
The National Council of Social Service (NCSS) - a statutory board that oversees more than 450 social service organisations here - polled 477 people recovering from mental health issues such as mood and anxiety disorders or schizophrenia last year.
The study, whose results were released to The Sunday Times yesterday, found that 55 per cent had problems joining communal activities, including public festivities and communal sporting events.
Seven in 10 said they had problems "living with dignity" because of the attitudes and actions of others, meaning they do not feel accepted by society or that they can contribute meaningfully to it.
By Janice Tai and Melody Zaccheus, The Sunday Times, 9 Oct 2016
Seven in 10 people with mental illness believe they are stigmatised by society, while slightly more than half have problems joining community events.
These are some of the key findings of the first government survey on the well-being of those with mental health issues.
Describing the findings as worrying, social workers are calling for more to be done to raise awareness of the problem.
The National Council of Social Service (NCSS) - a statutory board that oversees more than 450 social service organisations here - polled 477 people recovering from mental health issues such as mood and anxiety disorders or schizophrenia last year.
The study, whose results were released to The Sunday Times yesterday, found that 55 per cent had problems joining communal activities, including public festivities and communal sporting events.
Seven in 10 said they had problems "living with dignity" because of the attitudes and actions of others, meaning they do not feel accepted by society or that they can contribute meaningfully to it.
Ms Tan Li Li, executive director of the Singapore Association for Mental Health, said the findings are of concern as the respondents were using mental health social services in the community.
This means that they were likely to have less severe mental health issues and were able to hold jobs.
"So, knowing that 70 per cent have problems due to the attitudes of others may be cause for us to think about what we are lacking as a society," she said.
More than one in 10 people here will have a mental health condition in their lifetime, according to a 2010 Singapore mental health study.
The most common condition is major depressive disorder, which affected more than 5 per cent of adults in the 2010 survey, or more than 57,000 men and twice as many adult women.
Mr Anjan Ghosh, director of the service planning and development group at NCSS, highlighted that this feeling of being stigmatised could also stem from the respondents' own perceived fears and misconceptions.
Mr Anjan Ghosh, director of the service planning and development group at NCSS, highlighted that this feeling of being stigmatised could also stem from the respondents' own perceived fears and misconceptions.
He urged more interaction between both groups.
He added: "It is a vicious circle. The more there is perceived stigma, the more people with mental health issues isolate themselves and the more misconceptions develop due to the lack of interaction."
To raise awareness and educate the public on mental health issues, NCSS is coming up with a series of videos featuring real-life stories of people with conditions such as depression.
Last year, NCSS and the Singapore Anglican Community Services started an employment internship programme that provides on-the-job training for people with mental health issues.
By March next year, NCSS intends to start an employment assistance programme that will enable employers, through training for instance, to better understand and harness the potential of such workers.
Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob yesterday also made a call for employers to drop their prejudices and stop discriminating against people with mental health conditions.
Speaking on the sidelines of a mass walk in Orchard Road aimed at combating such stigma, held to mark World Mental Health Day tomorrow, she said getting hired is an important step in the road towards recovery for such people.
Employment will help them find a "meaningful purpose" and enable them to take care of their own needs, explained Madam Halimah, who is an MP in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC. "Give people with mental health issues a chance to work and also to contribute to the company," she urged.
Additional reporting by Melody Zaccheus
Employment will help them find a "meaningful purpose" and enable them to take care of their own needs, explained Madam Halimah, who is an MP in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC. "Give people with mental health issues a chance to work and also to contribute to the company," she urged.
Additional reporting by Melody Zaccheus
People with mental issues face job discrimination
Those interviewed say sense of societal rejection most acute while hunting for jobs
By Melody Zaccheus and Priscilla Goy, The Sunday Times, 9 Oct 2016
The hallucinations and delusions started in her late teens. Then five years ago, Ms Hafizah Kamarulzaman was diagnosed with schizophrenia after giving birth to her son.
While the single mother, now 23, managed to control her condition after seeking help, she struggled to get a job for almost four years, she told The Sunday Times.
She described how she was turned down for positions in the food and beverage and healthcare sectors, on the sidelines of an event called "Walk with Us, Stamp out Stigma". It was held in Orchard Road yesterday to combat the stigma faced by people with mental health conditions.
Those interviewed say sense of societal rejection most acute while hunting for jobs
By Melody Zaccheus and Priscilla Goy, The Sunday Times, 9 Oct 2016
While the single mother, now 23, managed to control her condition after seeking help, she struggled to get a job for almost four years, she told The Sunday Times.
She described how she was turned down for positions in the food and beverage and healthcare sectors, on the sidelines of an event called "Walk with Us, Stamp out Stigma". It was held in Orchard Road yesterday to combat the stigma faced by people with mental health conditions.
She said: "When the boss saw in my application form for a waitressing job that I had a mental illness, he asked what would happen if I had a relapse. I told him I had coping methods that I could use.
"His response was, 'If that's the case, then our position is full'."
Ms Hafizah finally found a job late last year as a programme executive at Club Heal, a social service organisation that helps people who have mental illnesses. It was also where she had been treated.
Yesterday's event was co-organised by the Agency for Integrated Care alongside 14 other community health partners such as Caregivers Alliance and the Institute of Mental Health, to commemorate World Mental Health Day, which is observed tomorrow.
At the event, Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob urged employers not to be prejudiced against people with mental health conditions.
In a recent National Council of Social Service survey of 477 people recovering from mental health issues, seven in 10 said they had problems "living with dignity" because of other people's attitudes and actions, making them feel unaccepted by society or unable to contribute meaningfully to it.
Others interviewed by The Sunday Times said they felt the sense of societal rejection most acutely while job hunting.
Ms Yamuna Segaran, 26, who has had acute anxiety and depression since her teenage years, said an interviewer once pushed her resume away upon learning about her mental health condition.
This was even though the interviewer had initially been impressed by her work experience.
Ms Yamuna, a part-time student at Kaplan Singapore who is pursuing a counselling degree from Northumbria University, said: "The look on the interviewer's face is still etched in my mind."
While she wanted to reintegrate into society, the difficulties she faced in finding a job made it harder to do so. She persisted in her job search, thanks to the support of her family, counsellor and psychiatrist and has since found a job as a supervisor at a bar.
Ms Valerie Liu, 34, who has had schizophrenia since 2008, feels that people with mental illnesses also have to overcome their own biases and fears. Some may themselves hold negative stereotypes associated with mental health sufferers, or be afraid of communicating with people.
Ms Winnie Kong, 28, a thrift shop sales assistant who suffers from borderline personality disorder, said she had been rejected by employers for positions in administration and sales.
She said: "They think that we are violent but this is not true in most cases. I think we should be given a chance."
Ms Winnie Kong, 28, a thrift shop sales assistant who suffers from borderline personality disorder, said she had been rejected by employers for positions in administration and sales.
She said: "They think that we are violent but this is not true in most cases. I think we should be given a chance."
Schools step up focus on students' mental health
Some taking preventive steps to identify and help those in distress, amid national effort to tackle young suicides
By Amelia Teng, The Straits Times, 10 Oct 2016
Schools have told The Straits Times they are paying more attention to students' mental wellness, amid a national bid to tackle the problem of young suicides.
From peer helper initiatives and talks on mental health to setting up rest corners, some are going beyond counselling to encourage students to speak up about difficulties - whether emotional or academic.
Last year, there were 27 suicides among 10- to 19-year-olds - a 15-year high. This was double the 2014 figure, despite a drop in the overall number of suicides.
In August, two students from a top junior college killed themselves within 10 days. Last month, a local university student was found dead on campus.
Minister of State for Education Janil Puthucheary said in Parliament last month that the Ministry of Education (MOE) was reviewing suicide-prevention strategies. A multi-agency group has also been set up to better understand how young suicides can be prevented.
Meanwhile, schools have taken preventive steps. Raffles Institution (RI) has trained 29 students in basic counselling skills and mental health issues as part of a Peer Helper Programme started this year.
Some taking preventive steps to identify and help those in distress, amid national effort to tackle young suicides
By Amelia Teng, The Straits Times, 10 Oct 2016
From peer helper initiatives and talks on mental health to setting up rest corners, some are going beyond counselling to encourage students to speak up about difficulties - whether emotional or academic.
Last year, there were 27 suicides among 10- to 19-year-olds - a 15-year high. This was double the 2014 figure, despite a drop in the overall number of suicides.
In August, two students from a top junior college killed themselves within 10 days. Last month, a local university student was found dead on campus.
Minister of State for Education Janil Puthucheary said in Parliament last month that the Ministry of Education (MOE) was reviewing suicide-prevention strategies. A multi-agency group has also been set up to better understand how young suicides can be prevented.
Meanwhile, schools have taken preventive steps. Raffles Institution (RI) has trained 29 students in basic counselling skills and mental health issues as part of a Peer Helper Programme started this year.
It held its first Mental Health Awareness Week last year. The event was also held this year.
RI student He Zhouzhou, 17, a peer helper, said it aimed to help students understand conditions like depression through booklets, and booths set up in the canteen.
Since last December, Raffles Girls' School has set up four dedicated counselling rooms. Previously, counsellors met students in their offices. This year, student leaders started a peer support system to help juniors look after their classes' well-being - such as teaching them ways to handle cliques and highlight problems to form teachers.
Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) Independent, which has three full-time counsellors, plans to start a Peer Always Listens programme next year to train 30 to 40 second-year students to be better listeners and spot signs of distress.
At Crescent Girls' School, Secondary 4 students attend motivational workshops and are given notes and gifts from other students, parents and the school.
Mrs Tan Chen Kee, its principal, said: "We recognise that O levels are around the corner and stress can build up and when students are discouraged, negativity sets in."
Dr Daniel Fung, chairman of IMH's medical board, said some pressures that teens face today are not as "tangible" as before. "It's about how others view them, finding purpose in life - and sometimes in top schools that's more intense."
The MOE said it "closely monitors the socio-emotional and mental well-being of our students" by working with schools, families and other agencies to build support networks. "Emphasis is placed on early identification and timely support for students who are in distress before the problem is exacerbated."
Teachers are trained to detect signs of distress in students and provide basic counselling support, she said. Parents and students said that peer support is a useful first line of defence, as teens may prefer sharing their struggles with friends.
Teachers are trained to detect signs of distress in students and provide basic counselling support, she said. Parents and students said that peer support is a useful first line of defence, as teens may prefer sharing their struggles with friends.
Mr Paul Long, 52, who has two sons in Primary 5 and Secondary 2, said: "It's a good initiative, but peer helpers must also be mature so they themselves don't get affected."
RI student Lee Yao En, 17, said: "It can be quite paiseh (Hokkien for embarrassing) to say 'I feel depressed', and this stigma causes people to be less open about it.
"But you can't just shrug it off. To the person, it means everything."
All can help create community of inclusion for mental-illness sufferers
In a survey conducted by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) among 477 people with mental health issues accessing social services, seven in 10 said they had problems living with dignity because of the attitudes and actions of others, and 55 per cent had problems joining community activities.
Social inclusion of people with mental health issues such as depression and schizophrenia and their ability to contribute meaningfully to society are key areas that need to be addressed ("Call to remove mental health query on job forms"; Sept 27, and "Raise awareness of realities mental-illness sufferers face" by Ms Sukriti Drabu; Oct 5).
For social inclusion to happen, our community must be open to understand, accept and empathise with people with mental health issues.
Media portrayal of people with mental health issues can be more balanced, seeing the person beyond the diagnosis.
These individuals will also need to take steps to gain deeper insights into their own mental health condition, develop coping mechanisms and supportive social networks, and seek medical help and treatment when necessary.
We support voluntary disclosure of mental health conditions, as it helps individuals receive support and reduces the burden of secrecy.
Some individuals live in constant fear about their mental health issue. This anxiety affects their help-seeking behaviour, and, in turn, their recovery journey.
Disclosure is a personal decision and it is important that individuals have access to information to make an appropriate decision in their own situation.
Family, friends, schoolmates and co-workers can equip themselves with knowledge and skills to provide the necessary support to them upon their disclosure.
We will continue to partner community mental health organisations to reach out to more people with mental health issues and encourage social inclusion for these individuals.
NCSS has also embarked on various initiatives to increase employment opportunities and enhance employment outcomes for these individuals.
We encourage more employers to embrace inclusive hiring practices and see individuals' potential to contribute in their areas of strength.
People with mental health issues can achieve their fullest potential and live life with dignity.
Everyone can play a part in creating a community of acceptance and inclusion to facilitate the recovery journey of people with mental health issues.
For more information on the various community support and social services available, visit our website www.ncss.gov.sg/speakup
Sim Gim Guan
Chief Executive
National Council of Social Service
ST Forum, 15 Oct 2016
"But you can't just shrug it off. To the person, it means everything."
All can help create community of inclusion for mental-illness sufferers
In a survey conducted by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) among 477 people with mental health issues accessing social services, seven in 10 said they had problems living with dignity because of the attitudes and actions of others, and 55 per cent had problems joining community activities.
Social inclusion of people with mental health issues such as depression and schizophrenia and their ability to contribute meaningfully to society are key areas that need to be addressed ("Call to remove mental health query on job forms"; Sept 27, and "Raise awareness of realities mental-illness sufferers face" by Ms Sukriti Drabu; Oct 5).
For social inclusion to happen, our community must be open to understand, accept and empathise with people with mental health issues.
Media portrayal of people with mental health issues can be more balanced, seeing the person beyond the diagnosis.
These individuals will also need to take steps to gain deeper insights into their own mental health condition, develop coping mechanisms and supportive social networks, and seek medical help and treatment when necessary.
We support voluntary disclosure of mental health conditions, as it helps individuals receive support and reduces the burden of secrecy.
Some individuals live in constant fear about their mental health issue. This anxiety affects their help-seeking behaviour, and, in turn, their recovery journey.
Disclosure is a personal decision and it is important that individuals have access to information to make an appropriate decision in their own situation.
Family, friends, schoolmates and co-workers can equip themselves with knowledge and skills to provide the necessary support to them upon their disclosure.
We will continue to partner community mental health organisations to reach out to more people with mental health issues and encourage social inclusion for these individuals.
NCSS has also embarked on various initiatives to increase employment opportunities and enhance employment outcomes for these individuals.
We encourage more employers to embrace inclusive hiring practices and see individuals' potential to contribute in their areas of strength.
People with mental health issues can achieve their fullest potential and live life with dignity.
Everyone can play a part in creating a community of acceptance and inclusion to facilitate the recovery journey of people with mental health issues.
For more information on the various community support and social services available, visit our website www.ncss.gov.sg/speakup
Sim Gim Guan
Chief Executive
National Council of Social Service
ST Forum, 15 Oct 2016
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