Latest news with #SingaporeMentalHealthConference
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Digital tools boost mental health reach, but experts stress the need for validation
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Experts speaking on a panel at the Singapore Mental Health Conference on July 17. SINGAPORE – Incorporating technology and digitalisation into mental health services can expand access and reach more people in need, but experts say rigorous checks are essential t o ensure that the tools are safe and effective. Speaking on a panel at the Singapore Mental Health Conference on July 17 , Ms Alice Ong, director of preventive health programmes and rewards at Health Promotion Board (HPB), noted that technology has been very helpful in addressing persistent stigma surrounding mental health. Citing the MindSG platform as an example, she said the website drew 3 million views when it was launched in 2021. As of 2024, it had accumulated 12 million page views. Dr Swapna Verma, chairman of the medical board at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), said that besides stigma, there are also manpower constraints in the mental health sector. Digital mental health services, she said, offer confidential and easy access to care. But such services – whether delivered online, via an app, or a physical wearable such as a smartwatch – need to be properly researched and validated. 'It's like medication. I won't prescribe a medication unless I see good evidence from a randomised controlled trial,' said Dr Swapna, adding that technology needs to be relevant and culturally sensitive too, or people might not use it. Another panelist Liz Ashall-Payne, founder of the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps (ORCHA), agreed on the importance of understanding the needs and preferences of different patients to ensure usability. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho Singapore Sex first, then you can sell my flat: Women property agents fend off indecent proposals and harassment Singapore Singapore Prison Service debunks online claims that it launched 'the world's first floating prison' Singapore Jail for elderly man for using knife to slash neighbour, who later died of heart disease Opinion Grab tried to disrupt taxis. It now wants to save them 'If three people have low-level anxiety, but one's a child, one's a teenager and one's an older person, they would want a different interface,' said Ms Ashall-Payne, whose organisation conducts independent reviews of health apps. There are about 365,000 digital health technologies around the world, she said, and ORCHA has reviewed about 35,000 products. It found that only 20 per cent of these technologies are secure, cyber safe and clinically effective. Some indicators of reliable digital mental health tools include the involvement of recognised professionals or clinicians in the product development, and published research on the technology. IMH has been using internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help patients learn coping skills like breathing techniques and time management. Traditionally, such skills are taught face-to-face by professionals, but with digitalisation, patients can learn the techniques at their convenience, while still receiving personalised check-ins from their psychologists. Studies have shown that internet-delivered CBT can be as effective as the in-person version. Ms Krista Vanderheide, assistant secretary at the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, shared that in December 2023, the country announced a A$456.7 million (S$379.8 million) investment in digital mental health to develop a new national approach to help people navigate digital services. The Australian government will also take the lead in accrediting digital mental health services. Ms Vanderheide added that the information and communication technology (ICT) unit of the government 'is always really deeply trained in how to make sure there's clinical safety and ICT cyber safety'. The eighth edition of the Singapore Mental Health Conference took place on July 16-17, with a heavy focus on digital mental health and artificial intelligence. Jointly organised by IMH, National Council of Social Service, Agency for Integrated Care, and HPB, the event drew more than 1,000 attendees on the first day.
CNA
6 days ago
- Health
- CNA
Acute psychiatry services to be expanded to all healthcare clusters in Singapore
Acute psychiatry services will expand to all healthcare clusters to meet increasing demand and provide greater access for patients. According to the Health Ministry, mental health disorders are among the top leading causes of disease burden in Singapore. Meanwhile, a new practice guide for mental health practitioners was also launched at the Singapore Mental Health Conference. It aims to standardise assessments and referrals based on a patient's symptoms and care needed. The guide will focus on managing depression, anxiety and suicidal tendencies. Chloe Teo reports.
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Singapore launches mental health guide to match care with patient needs
SINGAPORE, July 16 — Singapore has introduced a national guidebook to standardise the assessment and referral process for individuals seeking mental health support, as part of the country's four-tier care model, reported Xinhua. Unveiling the guide at the eighth Singapore Mental Health Conference, Senior Minister of State for Health Koh Poh Koon highlighted findings from a 2023 national survey showing that 15 per cent of residents reported experiencing poor mental health. To better match individuals with appropriate levels of care and ensure effective use of resources, Singapore's tiered model organises mental health services into four tiers, based on the severity of symptoms, complexity of needs, and intensity of interventions required. Tier one comprises foundational support such as school-based mental health curricula, digital self-help platforms, and community-based resources like parent groups and peer networks. Tier four includes psychiatric assessment and medical intervention by trained professionals. For example, if an individual experiencing moderate distress is initially supported through a tier two service and is assessed through a standardised tool to require more intensive care, they will be referred to tier three for further intervention, Koh said. The guidebook initially focuses on managing depression, anxiety, and suicidality, and may later be expanded to include less common mental health conditions. Koh also announced plans to expand acute psychiatric services across all regional healthcare clusters to improve accessibility and continuity of care across the island. — Bernama-Xinhua
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Health
- Straits Times
Acute psychiatry services to be expanded: MOH
Find out what's new on ST website and app. SINGAPORE - Acute psychiatry services will be expanded across all healthcare clusters to meet increasing demand, so that more patients will have greater access to help when they urgently need it. Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Health said this in a speech at the Singapore Mental Health Conference at Singapore Expo) on July 16. Mental health services within acute hospitals remain an important and significant touchpoint for individuals with acute mental health needs requiring specialist care and for those in crisis, he said. Acute psychiatry services include inpatient and outpatient services. Currently, inpatient psychiatric care in Singapore is available at six out of 11 public hospitals. These are the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Tan Tock Seng Hospital, National University Hospital, Changi General Hospital, Singapore General Hospital and Sengkang Hospital. Outpatient specialist mental health services are available in IMH and all acute hospitals. Dr Koh also launched a practice guide for Singapore's tiered care model for mental health. This guide was jointly developed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) , Ministry of Social and Family Development, and Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) , with input from numerous stakeholders. The guide is available on the MOH website. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore July BTO launch to have over 4,600 balance flats, 2 BTO projects with under than 3-year wait Business US tariffs may last well after Trump; crucial for countries to deepen trade ties: SM Lee Asia Indonesia police detain 12 suspects over baby trafficking ring linked to Singapore Singapore 'Kpods broke our marriage, shattered our children': Woman on husband's vape addiction Singapore Las Vegas Sands' new development part of S'pore's broader, more ambitious transformation: PM Wong Multimedia Telling the Singapore story for 180 years Life Walking for exercise? Here are tips on how to do it properly Singapore 'Nobody deserves to be alone': Why Mummy and Acha have fostered over 20 children in the past 22 years The guide aims to standardise assessment methods and referral procedures across service providers based on the intensity and stability of clients' symptoms, and the types of care required . For example, a Community Outreach Team (Crest) – a Tier 2 service under the national strategy – may refer a distressed individual with moderate mental health needs to a Community Intervention Team (Comit), which is a Tier 3 service, if a standardised assessment tool has determined that the client requires further diagnosis and/or psychosocial intervention, explained Dr Koh. With the practice guide, there will be greater consistency in how service providers deliver care and help their clients navigate the mental health ecosystem. To begin with , the practice guide focuses on the management of depression, anxiety and suicidality, and may be expanded to cover other less common mental health conditions in the future, he said. In addition, MOH will roll out a pocket guide for members of the public to more easily identify the types of mental health support and services available. Dr Koh said more details will be provided at a later date. The 8th edition of Singapore Mental Health Conference will run from July 16-17, with a heavy focus on digital mental health and artificial is jointly organised by IMH, National Council of Social Service, AIC , and the Health Promotion Board.
