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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
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 (for those aged 13 to 25) (for those aged 12 to 25) Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Lancet study shows mental disorders significantly impact youth aged 10-14 in Singapore
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 the 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 more than 70 years of age, an age group that experienced a three-fold rise 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, it 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 Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (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, Associate Professor, 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,' she 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, Prof Ng 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 they see 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 a 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 years. 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, over 385,000 people in Singapore were affected by cardiovascular diseases. The top five risk factors were high blood pressure, dietary risks (e.g., high sodium, low fiber, 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 (for those aged 13 to 25) (for those aged 12 to 25) Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Made-in-Singapore antibody test for multiple viruses now used worldwide
SINGAPORE: A test developed by local researchers to help tackle the next pandemic is now in use in more than 90 countries. Known as the multiplex surrogate virus neutralisation test (sVNT), it can detect if a person has antibodies capable of neutralising multiple viruses to prevent disease. Such antibodies offer protection against a variety of highly pathogenic viruses, including variants of Sars-CoV-2 – the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. The test can also be used for other pathogens such as Ebola and henipaviruses, a group of zoonotic viruses such as Nipah. Experts have warned that zoonotic viruses – transmitted from animals to humans, and vice versa – could spark future pandemics. The test was developed by a team led by Dr Tan Chee Wah of the microbiology and immunology department at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine) and Professor Wang Linfa of the emerging infectious diseases programme at Duke-NUS Medical School. It has a number of benefits, Prof Wang noted, especially its ability to measure neutralising antibodies. 'Neutralising antibodies are a functional measure of your immunity. So if you have a high level (of them), you will most likely be protected against future infection,' he said. This ability to measure an individual's immunity can in turn be used to determine the efficacy of new vaccines, he added. Such insights could then be used to make future vaccines more effective by broadening their coverage to include a variety of different, but related, viruses, said Prof Wang. The test can also support contact tracing in future epidemics by enabling the authorities to identify individuals who were previously infected and developed antibodies, thereby uncovering the chains of transmission. It can be used on animals as well, Prof Wang added, noting its use in tracing the spread of Sars-CoV-2 from humans to white-tailed deer in a US study published in the journal Nature Communications in 2023. This is important as future pandemics are likely to be the result of zoonotic diseases, as was the case for Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and Covid-19, said Professor Paul Tambyah from NUS Medicine. Dr Tan noted that another advantage is that the test does not require the use of a live virus – which carries a risk of infection – to determine the presence of neutralising antibodies. Instead, it requires only a spike protein from the virus – the component that the virus relies on to invade human cells, which is relatively harmless on its own. The multiplex sVNT was developed under the Integrated Innovations in Infectious Diseases (I3D) large collaborative grant, funded by the National Medical Research Council. Established under the Ministry of Health in 1994, the council oversees the development and advancement of medical research in Singapore. The test kit is based on cPass, the first commercial tool to detect whether someone has antibodies that neutralise Sars-CoV-2. Developed in 2020, cPass was created by a team led by Prof Wang, in collaboration with biotech firm GenScript and A*Star's Diagnostics Development Hub. The US Food and Drug Administration granted cPass emergency use approval in November 2020. However, cPass was limited in its ability to detect the different variants of Covid-19 that emerged as the virus evolved, noted Prof Tambyah, who is also lead principal investigator of I3D. This underscored the need for an enhanced test, he said. The multiplex sVNT is now being used in more than 90 countries, Prof Wang noted. This includes at institutions such as the University of Oxford, the University of Indonesia and the University of Melbourne. The team is now trying to build a test that can be used for all the pathogens on the World Health Organisation's global priority list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Dr Tan said. Prof Wang added: 'The challenge now, and also our excitement, is trying to build up a really multi-family, multi-class surrogate virus neutralisation test, so that we're ready for any disease X'. The term 'disease X' refers to an unknown pathogen that could cause a serious global pandemic. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, Singapore has been ramping up its pandemic preparedness efforts. In 2022, the Programme for Research in Epidemic Preparedness and Response, headed by Prof Wang, was launched. With funding of $100 million over five years, it aims to bring together experts from various fields to respond to future infectious disease outbreaks. And in April 2025, a new statutory board – the Communicable Diseases Agency – was launched. It consolidates public health functions that detect and control infectious diseases, enabling a faster response to disease outbreaks. - The Straits Times/ANN
Malay Mail
19-05-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
‘Ready for any disease X': New Singapore-made virus immunity test now used in 90 countries to track Covid-19, Ebola and Nipah
SINGAPORE, May 19 – A diagnostic test developed by Singaporean scientists to detect neutralising antibodies for multiple viruses is now in use in over 90 countries as part of global pandemic preparedness efforts. The Straits Times reported that the multiplex surrogate virus neutralisation test (sVNT), can identify whether a person has antibodies capable of neutralising several pathogens, including Sars-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19, as well as Ebola and Nipah viruses. 'Neutralising antibodies are a functional measure of your immunity. So if you have a high level, you will most likely be protected against future infection,' said Prof Wang Linfa from Duke-NUS Medical School, who co-led the project with Dr Tan Chee Wah from NUS Medicine. This ability to assess immunity can also help gauge the effectiveness of vaccines and inform future formulations to cover a broader range of related viruses, Prof Wang added. Beyond vaccine development, the test supports contact tracing during outbreaks by identifying those previously infected, and can also be used in animals, having traced Sars-CoV-2 transmission from humans to deer in a US study. Dr Tan noted the test's safety advantage, as it uses only spike proteins from viruses rather than live pathogens, avoiding risks of infection during antibody detection. The test was developed under the Integrated Innovations in Infectious Diseases grant led by the National Medical Research Council, which funds medical research under Singapore's Ministry of Health. Based on the cPass test introduced in 2020, the sVNT expands on its predecessor's limitations, particularly its inability to detect newer Covid-19 variants, said Professor Paul Tambyah from NUS Medicine. Now adopted by institutions like the University of Oxford and the University of Melbourne, the sVNT plays a role in international research and surveillance of infectious diseases. Looking ahead, Dr Tan said the team aims to create a universal test for all pathogens listed by the World Health Organisation as global health threats, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria. 'The challenge now, and also our excitement, is trying to build up a really multi-family, multi-class surrogate virus neutralisation test, so that we're ready for any disease X,' said Prof Wang, referring to a yet-unknown virus that could spark a pandemic. Singapore has boosted its pandemic readiness since Covid-19, with the launch of a S$100 million research programme in 2022 and, most recently, the Communicable Diseases Agency in April 2025 to centralise infectious disease response.
Straits Times
18-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Made-in-Singapore antibody test for multiple viruses now used worldwide
(From right) Professor Wang Linfa and Dr Tan Chee Wah, who together led the team that developed the antibody test, with Professor Paul Tambyah. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY SINGAPORE – A test developed by local researchers to help tackle the next pandemic is now in use in more than 90 countries. Known as the multiplex surrogate virus neutralisation test (sVNT), it can detect if a person has antibodies capable of neutralising multiple viruses to prevent disease. Such antibodies offer protection against a variety of highly pathogenic viruses, including variants of Sars-CoV-2 – the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. The test can also be used for other pathogens such as Ebola and henipaviruses, a group of zoonotic viruses such as Nipah. Experts have warned that zoonotic viruses – transmitted from animals to humans, and vice versa – could spark future pandemics. The test was developed by a team led by Dr Tan Chee Wah of the microbiology and immunology department at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine) and Professor Wang Linfa of the emerging infectious diseases programme at Duke-NUS Medical School. It has a number of benefits, Prof Wang noted, especially its ability to measure neutralising antibodies. 'Neutralising antibodies are a functional measure of your immunity. So if you have a high level (of them), you will most likely be protected against future infection,' he said. This ability to measure an individual's immunity can in turn be used to determine the efficacy of new vaccines, he added. Such insights could then be used to make future vaccines more effective by broadening their coverage to include a variety of different, but related, viruses, said Prof Wang. The test can also support contact tracing in future epidemics by enabling the authorities to identify individuals who were previously infected and developed antibodies, thereby uncovering the chains of transmission. It can be used on animals as well, Prof Wang added, noting its use in tracing the spread of Sars-CoV-2 from humans to white-tailed deer in a US study published in the journal Nature Communications in 2023. This is important as future pandemics are likely to be the result of zoonotic diseases, as was the case for Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and Covid-19, said Professor Paul Tambyah from NUS Medicine. Dr Tan noted that another advantage is that the test does not require the use of a live virus – which carries a risk of infection – to determine the presence of neutralising antibodies. Instead, it requires only a spike protein from the virus – the component that the virus relies on to invade human cells, which is relatively harmless on its own. The multiplex sVNT was developed under the Integrated Innovations in Infectious Diseases (I3D) large collaborative grant, funded by the National Medical Research Council. Established under the Ministry of Health in 1994, the council oversees the development and advancement of medical research in Singapore. The test kit is based on cPass, the first commercial tool to detect whether someone has antibodies that neutralise Sars-CoV-2. Developed in 2020, cPass was created by a team led by Prof Wang, in collaboration with biotech firm GenScript and A*Star's Diagnostics Development Hub. The US Food and Drug Administration granted cPass emergency use approval in November 2020. However, cPass was limited in its ability to detect the different variants of Covid-19 that emerged as the virus evolved, noted Prof Tambyah, who is also lead principal investigator of I3D. This underscored the need for an enhanced test, he said. The multiplex sVNT is now being used in more than 90 countries, Prof Wang noted. This includes at institutions such as the University of Oxford, the University of Indonesia and the University of Melbourne. The team is now trying to build a test that can be used for all the pathogens on the World Health Organisation's global priority list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Dr Tan said. Prof Wang added: 'The challenge now, and also our excitement, is trying to build up a really multi-family, multi-class surrogate virus neutralisation test, so that we're ready for any disease X'. The term 'disease X' refers to an unknown pathogen that could cause a serious global pandemic. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, Singapore has been ramping up its pandemic preparedness efforts. In 2022, the Programme for Research in Epidemic Preparedness and Response, headed by Prof Wang, was launched. With funding of $100 million over five years, it aims to bring together experts from various fields to respond to future infectious disease outbreaks. And in April 2025, a new statutory board – the Communicable Diseases Agency – was launched. It consolidates public health functions that detect and control infectious diseases, enabling a faster response to disease outbreaks. Zhaki Abdullah is a correspondent at The Straits Times. He is on the health beat, in addition to occasionally covering science, environmental, tech and Muslim affairs issues. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
