OCD & Anxiety Disorders: Crash Course Psychology #29

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.

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?

‘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.

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. About one in seven Singaporeans have experienced a mood or anxiety disorder at some point of their lives[1]. Diagnosis is made through clinical tests and observations. Despite their prevalence, persons with mental illness still face considerable stigma and discrimination.

Duke-NUS students seek to remove stigma of mental illness, Latest Singapore News He was having a cup of coffee with a secondary school friend last year when the friend told him he had been suffering from depression. Mr Clement Sim was surprised that his friend had had depression for about a decade and he never suspected anything. Mr Sim, 29, now in his third year studying medicine at the Duke-NUS Medical School, said: "He was always cheerful and bubbly, and it really pained me to know that he was suffering in silence for the past 10 years." Upon learning he was studying psychiatry, two more of Mr Sim's friends came forward to tell him that they were suffering from depression.

More struggling with alcohol abuse, but seeking help earlier, Health News A growing number of people here are struggling to cope with alcohol abuse, though more are seeking help for the condition earlier than was the case before, a nationwide mental health study has revealed. The second Singapore Mental Health Study, which was conducted in 2016, showed that in the six years that separated it from the first study, the issue had become more serious. Almost 13.9 per cent - or one in seven people here - admitted that they had experienced mental illness at some point in their life. National Healthcare Group Polyclinics A clinical psychologist works closely with doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals to enable patients to manage and improve their mental and physical health. A clinical psychologist is qualified to provide assessment, counselling and psychotherapy for patients with stress-related problems, common mental health problems, with or without physical health conditions. A clinical psychologist also helps patients with an understanding of the factors that contribute to their problems and that maintain them. Through working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals, a clinical psychologist also helps patients manage unhelpful thoughts, emotions and behaviours. This aims to improve patients' mental well-being and increase readiness to take steps to change thoughts, emotions and behaviours to reduce symptoms and increase healthy lifestyle habits.

Considerable stigma against mental illness: Study SINGAPORE — An Institute of Mental Health (IMH) study has found a common perception here that those with mental illness can get better if they wanted to and that their condition is a sign of personal weakness. Researchers behind the study said this suggests “considerable” stigma towards individuals with mental illness. The stigma could hinder such individuals from seeking treatment out of fear of being associated with a disorder. The mental health literacy study spanning one year started in March last year and involved about 3,000 adult residents aged between 18 and 65. It examined how well people could recognise five common mental disorders — alcohol abuse, dementia, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia — and their beliefs towards these conditions.

People with mental issues face job discrimination, Singapore News 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".

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. Click here for the list of employers who have pledged. If you would like to find out more or be part of this movement, please contact the Mental Health Services team at ncss_mental_health@ncss.gov.sg.

OCD one of the most common mental disorders in Singapore SINGAPORE: Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of most common mental health conditions here, according to findings from a nationwide study released on Tuesday (Dec 11). The disorder affected one in 28 people in their lifetime, making it the third-most prevalent condition after major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse. The illness is commonly characterised by recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses or images, and when severe, impedes a person's ability to function. Younger people aged 18 to 34 were more likely to have the condition than those aged 50 and above, said researchers from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), citing the findings from the second Singapore Mental Health Study.

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.