If you have yet to, take this quiz to test yourself on your knowledge of mental health! https://forms.gle/Z4H3UdowpWWA58yz7
Have you ever faced a period in your life whereby you feel exhausted, stressed and you tried to confide in someone, but he or she downplayed your issue by saying things like “other people have it worse”, “get over it” or “it’s not that bad”?
How did that make you feel?
Your mental health is important, and it should be taken seriously. Many people tend to neglect their mental wellbeing and prioritise their physical well-being when both are closely linked and equally important.
You might know what ‘Mental Health’ refers to, but do you really understand what it is?
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mental health is a ‘state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community’ (WHO, 2018).
According to the second Singapore Mental Health Study (SMHS) conducted in 2016, in Singapore, 1 in 7 people has suffered from a mood, anxiety or alcohol use disorder in their life (IMH, 2018).
According to IMH (2018), the top 3 mental disorders were
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD),
Alcohol Abuse and;
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Although mental disorders are quite prevalent in Singapore, many people are still unaware of the importance of mental wellness and have negative perceptions and stereotypes about people with mental disorders.
Here’s a video by National Council of Social Service’s (NCSS) initiative ‘Beyond the Label’, that could give you a better insight on the mental health stigma in Singapore.
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References
Institute of Mental Health. (2018, December 11). Latest nationwide study shows 1 in 7 people in Singapore has experienced a mental disorder in their lifetime [Media release]. Retrieved from https://www.imh.com.sg/uploadedFiles/Newsroom/News_Releases/SMHS 2016_Media Release_FINAL_web upload.pdf.
World Health Organisation. (2018, March 30). Mental health: strengthening our response [Information on a page]. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response.
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