Alcohol abuse worse among younger people, Singapore News
SINGAPORE (THE NEW PAPER) - The young man woke up in his bed one morning to find himself surrounded by chocolates. He had blacked out after a night of heavy drinking and had no recollection of how he had got home with his bounty. The young man, who does not even like chocolates, suspected that he might have stolen them and was lucky not to have been caught.
AIA launches Singapore's first policy that covers mental illnesses
AIA Singapore has launched AIA Beyond Critical Care, the country's first critical illness insurance plan that covers mental illnesses. According to a Singapore Mental Health Study by the Institute of Mental Health and Nanyang Technological University, one in seven Singaporeans experienced a mental disorder in their lifetime, an increase from one in eight in 2010. And of those who have experienced a mental disorder in their lifetime, the majority - about 75% - did not seek professional help. To tackle the stigma of mental conditions head-on and to encourage timely and appropriate treatments, the policy provides coverage for five mental illnesses: Major Depressive Disorders Schizophrenia Bipolar Disorder Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Tourette Syndrome The plan also stands out for including coverage for five rediagnosed or recurred CIs which are amongst the leading cause of death and top disease burdens in Singapore:
Common Psychological Disorder In 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 Part of the study’s findings is the alarming revelation that most of these sufferers (more than three-quarters) have never sought any professional help for their illnesses.
Depression
Besides lifestyle changes, depression can be managed also through a range of treatment strategies, including medication, counselling or psychological intervention with the help of experts. Treatment needs vary from individual to individual. If you're suffering from depression, it's best to approach a mental health professional to find out what treatment (or combination of treatments) is available and suited to you, and with their help, develop an individualised support plan. Remember, depression will not go away by itself. If left untreated, the symptoms are likely to get worse.
More people in Singapore struggling with alcohol abuse, but seeking help earlier: Study, Health News
SINGAPORE - A mental health study has shown that while alcohol abuse is a growing problem here, sufferers have been seeking help earlier. The second Singapore Mental Health Study, conducted in 2016, found that one in 24 people struggled with the problem in their lifetime, or 4.1 per cent of the population. This is up from one in 32 people in the landmark study done in 2010. Symptoms include recurrent alcohol use that affects obligations at work, school, or home. But sufferers also sought treatment earlier – the median number of years they delayed treatment in 2016 was four years, down from 13 years in 2010. The results released on Tuesday (Dec 11) also showed that a smaller proportion, or 0.5 per cent of the population, suffered from alcohol dependence.
Many in Singapore unwilling to live or work with people with mental health conditions: Survey, Health News
SINGAPORE - Even as more people are seeking outpatient treatment at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), more than five in 10 respondents of 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), also found that six in 10 people believe that mental health conditions are caused by a lack of self-discipline and willpower. Another key finding from the survey conducted last year - half of the 1,796 respondents believe that persons with mental health conditions should not be given any responsibility. But there were some encouraging notes in the findings, which were released on Saturday (Sept 8). The findings highlight the misconceptions and stigma suffered by persons with mental health conditions, said NCSS deputy chief executive officer Tina Hung.
2) Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependence
Do you continue to drink when it causes you problems? What you should be aware of when you drink Alcohol is often used as a social lubricant in social settings.
Depression
o Mental FilterThis thinking style involves a “filtering in” and “filtering out”process – a sort of ‘tunnel vision”, focusing on only one part of a situation and ignoring the rest. Usually this means looking at the negative parts of a situation and forgetting the positive parts, and the whole picture is coloured by what may be a single negative detail. o Jumping to ConclusionsWe jump to conclusion when we assume that we know what someone else is thinking (mind reading) and when we make predictions about what is going to happen in the future (predictive thinking). o PersonalisationThis involves blaming yourself for everything that goes wrong or could go wrong, even when you may only be partly responsible or not responsible at all. You might be taking 100% responsibility for the occurrence of external events.
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.
