Mental disorders significantly impact youth aged 10-14 in Singapore: Lancet study
The rise of social media and high academic pressure have both been linked to increased mental health issues among young people in Singapore. ST FILE PHOTO
SINGAPORE - Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability and death among 10- to 14-year-olds in Singapore, while the impact of mental distress on population health here is the highest in Asean , according to a new paper published in medical journal Lancet Public Health on May 28.
In 2021, the prevalence of mental disorders here was estimated at 12.8 per cent among males and 11.7 per cent among females.
Altogether, 653,000 diagnoses of mental disorders were made in Singapore that year, including among those above 70 years of age, an age group that experienced a threefold rise from 1990 in the number of cases.
Anxiety and depression, triggered in large part by the Covid-19 pandemic, were the most common disorders, affecting approximately 185,000 and 144,000 individuals, respectively, the paper said.
The paper was among four studies examining – for the first time – Asean's public health crisis in mental disorders, cardiovascular disease, smoking and injuries.
They are part of the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, a large-scale effort examining health trends worldwide.
The series of papers is the first joint research collaboration between NUS' Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine) and the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), which leads the GBD study.
Explaining the mental health burden on adolescents and the population here, lead author Marie Ng, an associate professor at NUS Medicine and affiliate associate professor at IHME, said the rise of social media and high academic pressure have both been linked to increased mental health issues among young people.
In addition, there are the shifts in the social fabric, including family breakdowns and social isolation, which are becoming more common in developed and Westernised societies, she said.
On the other end of the spectrum, as the population ages rapidly and people live longer, the number of older adults with mental disorders has also risen. 'Mental and physical health are closely connected; with weakening physical health, depression is common among the elderly as Singapore's population ages,' Prof Ng said.
The pandemic also triggered increased feelings of uncertainty, anxiety and isolation across all age groups. At the same time, however, improved public awareness and decreasing stigma have led to more people recognising symptoms and seeking help, she added.
Professor Alina Rodriguez from the psychological medicine department at NUS Medicine, a collaborator on the paper on mental health, said the data reinforces what is seen at schools. Clinically, mental health challenges often emerge early in life and, if unaddressed, can lead to years of lost potential.
Asean had an estimated 80.4 million cases of mental disorders in 2021, reflecting an increase of approximately 70 per cent since 1990, and anxiety disorders were the region's most common mental disorder.
The actual number does not reflect the true need, as many would be borderline cases, and stigma prevents people from seeking care, said Prof Rodriguez.
Meanwhile, self-harm was the leading cause of injury deaths in Singapore, accounting for 47 per cent of all injury deaths, with the highest incidence rate seen among youth aged 20 to 24. Mental disorders are a major contributor.
More incidents of self-harm occurred among females in Singapore than males in 2021. The incidence in Singapore was lower, however, than the rates in neighbouring high-income Asian countries Japan and South Korea.
Falls were the second-leading cause of injury death after self-harm, accounting for 22 per cent of all deaths from injury here.
In the region, the largest number of injury deaths was attributed to road injuries, followed by falls, self-harm, drowning and interpersonal violence. Self-harm was among the top three leading causes of injury-related mortality in Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and Vietnam.
As for cardiovascular diseases, Singapore had the lowest prevalence and mortality in the Asean region, and outperformed trends in global and high-income countries in the reduction of cardiovascular disease mortality.
However, cardiovascular diseases are still a major population health issue here, given the ageing population and rising risk factors. It is the second-leading cause of death in Singapore, and the number of cases has increased by nearly 200 per cent in the last 30 years.
In 2021, more than 385,000 people in Singapore were affected by cardiovascular diseases. The top five risk factors were high blood pressure, dietary risks (for example, high sodium, low fibre, low fruit), high LDL cholesterol, high fasting plasma glucose and tobacco use. Obesity is the fastest-growing risk factor.
In Singapore, the smoking prevalence among males aged 15 and above was 20.2 per cent, significantly lower than the Asean average of 48.4 per cent.
Among females, smoking prevalence stood at 6.56 per cent, which is higher than the regional female average of 4.47 per cent, and ranked the fourth-highest in the region.
'The findings present a nuanced picture of Singapore's health progress. While we've made remarkable strides in areas like cardiovascular care and tobacco control, the growing burden of mental health conditions and injuries, particularly self-harm and falls, calls for urgent and sustained attention,' said Prof Ng.
Helplines Mental well-being Institute of Mental Health's Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 (24 hours)
Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp)
Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928
Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1
Women's Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm) Counselling Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252
Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555
Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366
We Care Community Services: 3165-8017
Clarity Singapore: 6757-7990 Online resources mindline.sg
eC2.sg
tinklefriend.sg
chat.mentalhealth.sg
carey.carecorner.org.sg (for those aged 13 to 25)
limitless.sg/talk (for those aged 12 to 25)
shanyou.org.sg
Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AsiaOne
3 hours ago
- AsiaOne
US cancels more than $700 million funding for Moderna bird flu vaccine, World News
The Trump administration has cancelled a contract awarded to Moderna for the late-stage development of its bird flu vaccine for humans, as well as the right to purchase shots, the drugmaker announced on Wednesday (May 28). Shares of Moderna were flat in after-market trading. Moderna in January was awarded US$590 million (S$760) by the Biden administration to advance the development of its bird flu vaccine, and support the expansion of clinical studies for up to five additional subtypes of pandemic influenza. This was in addition to US$176 million awarded by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last year to complete the late-stage development and testing of a pre-pandemic mRNA-based vaccine against the H5N1 avian influenza. HHS told Reuters earlier this year that it was reviewing agreements made by the Biden administration for vaccine production. "The cancellation means that the government is discarding what could be one of the most effective and rapid tools to combat an avian influenza outbreak," said Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, adding that it is the opposite approach Trump took with Operation Warp Speed to combat Covid-19. An HHS spokesperson said that after a comprehensive internal review, the agency had determined that the project did not meet the scientific standards or safety expectations required for continued federal investment. Bird flu has infected 70 people, most of them farm workers, over the past year as it has spread aggressively among cattle herds and poultry flocks. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has questioned the use of vaccines and earlier this year drew censure from some in the US Congress after he suggested in a television interview that poultry farmers should let the bird flu spread unchecked through their flocks to study chickens who did not contract it. Moderna said it plans to explore alternatives for late-stage development and manufacturing of the vaccine. The company has been banking on revenue from newer mRNA shots, including its bird flu vaccine and experimental Covid-flu combination vaccine, to make up for waning post-pandemic demand for its Covid vaccine. Moderna also said on Wednesday that it had received positive interim data from a mid-stage trial set up to test the safety and immunogenicity of its bird flu vaccine targeting the H5 avian influenza virus subtype. [[nid:713266]]
AsiaOne
5 hours ago
- AsiaOne
'A project out of love': Dad-daughter duo sets up assisted living community to honour late grandma, Singapore News
When the Covid-19 pandemic reached Singapore five years ago and triggered a lockdown here, the Kok family had no choice but to halt the frequent social activities their dementia-stricken grandmother enjoyed. The elderly woman, who was diagnosed with dementia in 2010, used to exercise daily, engage in activities with dementia care professionals and go on outings around the island with her family or a domestic helper. It stimulated her mind and helped slow down the progression of dementia, her granddaughter Shervonne Kok told AsiaOne. Then came the circuit-breaker in 2020. Confined at home, the once "lively" senior deteriorated "drastically" within six months, recalled the 25-year-old. Shervonne, who was a university undergraduate at that time, remembered how her grandmother eventually forgot basic actions such as walking and experienced emotional instability. The elderly woman's health went "downhill" after she later caught Covid-19 from a care professional after lockdown restrictions were lifted, and she died in December 2023, Shervonne's father, Simon, added. The ordeal is one of the reasons why the father-daughter duo decided to set up Sunlight Assisted Living this year, to cater to elderly persons who require assistance in everyday living, such as those with dementia or minor mobility issues, and also wish to maintain a level of independence. The duo told AsiaOne that residents will be provided five meals a day with daily social activities planned, including round-the-clock caregiving support. Aside from the assisted living care option, this facility — to be launched in the upcoming months — will also offer day care services, which will cost $315 a week or $1,250 a month. Shervonne told AsiaOne she believes her grandmother would still be alive if she had received adequate social support during the Covid-19 pandemic. "But unfortunately, Covid hit, so this inspired us to have this facility so that other families don't go through the same thing as we did, and we can spread our knowledge and how we cared for her pre-Covid to slow down her dementia," she explained. "And so that other families [in similar situations] will not go through this journey alone." Helping lonely elderlies Simon, 59, is no newbie to the healthcare industry, having set up private ambulance service Sunlight Ambulance a decade ago. Shervonne joined the business after graduating with a business degree in 2023. As he ferried patients between hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions, Simon told AsiaOne he got a glimpse of facility operations and talked to patients and their families. His interactions, coupled with his mother's health condition then, sparked thoughts on the need for home-like senior care communities where residents are not restricted. Shervonne also shared that many elderlies have told them they feel lonely and are not able to fully establish a personal connection with their caregivers. "We really wanted to create a home, not an institution for the elderly. We don't want to manage them by their conditions, but to see them as individuals through this safe space involving them together," she added. "Sunlight Assisted Living is not just a place for them to sleep. We want to stimulate their minds; we want them to have choices. We want to give them autonomy in this space, so they can spend their golden years well." Years in the making The Koks have rented a four-storey landed property at 8 Beng Wan Road in Boon Keng, which boasts a home lift and 12 bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom. They are hoping to welcome eight to 10 seniors into the space, with the top floor converted into an office where Sunlight Ambulance will operate from. The hunt to find a suitable space for the assisted living community took years as the founders wanted a spacious home close to nature and greenery, located in a central and accessible location so residents can venture outside and their families could visit easily. Simon added that he had been rejected by several landlords who did not want their homes to be used as an eldercare facility. They finally settled on the current landed property this March, and started work immediately. With rental costing them a tidy five-figure sum, the duo admitted to AsiaOne that they had a little debate on fees due to the "very high" starting cost. Prices for a room hence start from $4,500 per month, and is also determined based on the needs and amount of care support a resident requires. "We didn't cheap out," Shervonne said candidly. "It's a project out of love, but also a personally funded venture." Simon emphasised they are not looking to make profit, and that they've calculated for the monthly fees to be "just enough" to cover their expenses. The space Assisted living is not the same as a nursing home, which typically charge lower fees, pointed out Simon. Some key differences are having a private space and the autonomy to choose and participate in preferred activities, they shared. "We wouldn't restrict them (the seniors) to a rigid schedule... they are free to do whatever they want, and we support their choices," said Shervonne. "For all our caregivers we tell them to respect their choices, we will push and motivate them to do activities, but if they want to do a certain activity we will definitely support them, which is something that you don't see in traditional care." She added that the staff to senior ratio at Sunlight Assisted Living will be one to two or one to three, which is smaller than the average ratio in nursing homes. The duo have also been intentional in renovating the home, including varying the theme colours of the bedrooms to help residents with dementia better remember the environment. Hand bars and anti-slip mats have been installed in every personal bathrooms, as well as handle bars on beds to assist elderlies in sitting up. An alarm system has been set up on every floor, so residents can receive timely assistance by pressing an alert button to be carried with them. With Sunlight Assisted Living set to officially open on May 31, the dad-daughter duo is raring to go but there's a catch — finding suitable residents is turning out to be a bit of a tall order. It's a "waiting game", as Shervonne puts it. They have received enquiries from seniors, but some purportedly shared that they are "waiting to sell their house", or are currently still receiving medical treatment elsewhere. Rising demand for eldercare services Adam Ang, Assistant Programme Chair for the Diploma in Integrated Community Care at Republic Polytechnic, told AsiaOne that Singapore will see a rising demand for aged care services due to a growing senior population and increased life expectancy. According to SingStat data, the proportion of seniors aged 65 years and above in Singapore increased from 17.3% in 2023 to 18.0% in 2024. The life expectancy at birth for females rose to 85.6 years in 2024, and 81.2 years for males. He pointed out that aside from public assisted living facilities such as senior group homes and community care apartments, Singapore is exploring alternative care models to "meet the varied needs of different cohorts of seniors". "One such example is a sandbox initiative by the Ministry of Health and the Agency for Integrated Care to pilot a private assisted living model with live-in caregivers in shared apartments," he said. [[nid:713347]] Ang added that public and private assisted living providers foster healthy competition, drive improvements in service quality, and ensure cost-effectiveness. "This variety empowers seniors to make informed decisions and select care options that align with their preferences, lifestyle, and specific needs, which is a crucial factor in enhancing their overall well-being." He also noted that nursing homes and assisted living facilities cater to different needs, with the former for seniors who require more medical care and continuous monitoring approach and the latter for those who need assistance in daily activities and personal care services, but prefer to live independently. So, are there other care options for seniors who need basic care, but do not wish to stay in assisted living facilities for other reasons? In this regard, Ang shared with AsiaOne that seniors with a higher degree of independence can explore centre-based services such as Active Ageing Centres, day care, night respite, and the Integrated Home and Day Care (IHDC) Package. For seniors facing mobility challenges, they can explore home-based services such as therapy sessions, personal care, medical services, and nursing care. 'Work from the heart' Despite the challenges which the dad-daughter duo have faced so far, Shervonne told AsiaOne her late grandma is a source of motivation for her to push on. "Whenever I take patients in the ambulance, I listen to their stories and I feel personally connected with them. It makes me relieve the memories with my grandmother," she shared. "I still remember one time I took a patient with dementia [in the ambulance]. She was very cute and gives off the same positive vibes like my grandma. And I think I was tearing up in the ambulance as a medic, because she really, really reminded me of my grandma. "The main motivation for doing all this is really because I feel that I am taking care of other people's grandparents." Simon chimed in: "This is work from the heart, that sincerely touches you." [[nid:718446]]
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
Malaysia nurses oppose 45-hour work week plan
KUALA LUMPUR — The Malayan Nurses Union (MNU) is up in arms over the government's decision to increase the weekly working hours of nurses in the public sector from 42 to 45, effective Aug 1. Its president Saaidah Athman said nurses have made many sacrifices in serving the well-being of the public, and they were unhappy with the additional workload being imposed on them. In a letter dated May 28 to the Health Ministry secretary-general, the Public Services Department (JPA) paused the implementation of the new working arrangement, which was originally scheduled to begin on June 1. The JPA also stated that this would be the final postponement and that the new working hours would be implemented soon. A previous postponement had already been granted, moving the start date from March 1 to May 31 at the Health Ministry's request. While the MNU welcomed the latest postponement, Ms Saaidah h opes the ministr y will maintain the current 42-hour work week instead of increasing it to 45 hours. She noted that nurses in countries such as Singapore and the Philippines work 40 hours a week , in line with recommendations by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). This, she said, is because regular work hours are already tiring enough for nurses, and additional hours would lead to exhaustion . 'Where is the justice and welfare for nurses, who are the pulse, heart, and backbone of the ministry? 'The current working structure in the healthcare system must be improved. 'In other countries, including Singapore, nurses only work in wards and handle recovery work. But in Malaysia, we perform many tasks — from escorting patients to x-rays and the operating theatre, to indenting, collecting data, participating in audits, and being involved in hospital activities,' she told The Star on May 29 . She added that nurses would be disappointed if the 45-hour work week was implemented. Ms Saaidah said nurses were at the frontline of medical care during the Covid-19 pandemic and served the nation, often at the cost of leaving their families due to the demands of the job . 'Imagine if the work hours were extended but there was no review on the burden of the job and the improvements,' she said. Nurses have previously opposed the new working hours, citing a lack of work-life balance and increased workload. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
