Samaritans of Singapore (SOS)

Busting the Myths of Mental Illness Do you know anyone with mental illness? According to statistics, one in six people in Singapore suffer from some form of it[1], which means someone close to you may be affected. Unfortunately, many patients are forced to keep their condition under wraps because of the stigma and taboo surrounding mental illness. They may be reluctant to seek treatment, or not follow the prescribed course of medication for fear of being found out. The social isolation makes it harder for patients to get the help they need. Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC) No walk-ins! Please call 6779-0282 for an appointment. While Singapore remains at Dorscon Yellow or higher, we are unable to entertain ANY walk-ins. Thanks for your understanding. Rape and sexual assault can be highly traumatic for victims. It can take a long time to get over the trauma of such a crime.

Coping with Stress The most dangerous aspect of stress is how easily it can creep up on you. You think that you got used to it. It may start to feel familiar, or even normal. Ministry of Social and Family Development We work closely with the Ministry of Health in developing integrated and holistic health-and-eldercare services and programmes to address physical, emotional and mental needs. Our eldercare services reach out to vulnerable seniors with little family and social support to help them: live and grow old independently and with dignity enhance their quality of life grow old within their own homes or community.

‘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.

How to Develop a Safety Plan for PTSD Symptoms If you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), then you likely know that your PTSD symptoms can occur at any time and in any place. PTSD triggers are all around, and it may not take much for a trigger to cause intrusive memories and thoughts about a traumatic event, symptoms of hyperarousal and hypervigilance, or emotional distress. Therefore, given that the occurrence of PTSD symptoms can be unpredictable, it is important to create a safety plan for coping with them when they occur. What Is a Safety Plan? As the name implies, a safety plan is designed to keep you safe when you are suddenly confronted with a difficult situation or crisis. The Basics of Stress Stress is a situation that triggers a particular biological response. When you perceive a threat or a major challenge, chemicals and hormones surge throughout your body. Stress triggers your fight-or-flight response in order to fight the stressor or run away from it. Typically, after the response occurs, your body should relax. Too much constant stress can have negative effects on your long-term health. Is all stress bad?

6 Effects of Stress on Older Adults : HealthCompare 6 Effects of Stress on Older Adults Thursday, March 8, 2018 7:21 AM Stress is a part of our lives no matter how we try to avoid it, and it can be affecting your health in a variety of ways. The most common stress symptoms include headaches, fatigue, sleeping issues (such as insomnia), or muscle tension, but there are some surprising things that stress can do to your body, especially as we age.

He’s 48, and already grappling with dementia SINGAPORE: He was once an accomplished teacher and published author of two chemistry books. But two years ago, when he was only 46, Mr George Chong was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s, an uncommon form of dementia. There was no cure, the doctor told him – and he slowly began to lose control of his daily life. Over time, he found it hard to follow instructions, do simple calculations and, sometimes, even distinguish his right hand from his left. “Because of Alzheimer’s, I was very agitated. It was so bad that I even scolded my wife: ‘Why didn’t you take care of me?’” What Are PTSD Triggers? When you have posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), your symptoms can come and go. You might feel fine until you hear a car backfire loudly. Suddenly, you become very afraid. Images of your time fighting in a war flood back. Certain triggers can set off your PTSD.

Stress Management: How to Reduce, Prevent, and Cope with Stress It may seem that there’s nothing you can do about your stress level. The bills aren’t going to stop coming, there will never be more hours in the day for all your errands, and your career or family responsibilities will always be demanding. But you have a lot more control than you might think. In fact, the simple realization that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of stress management.

10 Easy Ways Seniors Can Boost Their Mental Health and Well-Being A challenged brain is a happy brain. So when the kids are grown and you’ve retired from your job, you could find yourself struggling a bit to stay busy and engaged, and you might feel depressed. You wouldn’t be alone.