Mental health conditions used to be talked about in a whisper, if they were mentioned at all.
But the pandemic has put a stop to that, ironically by affecting psychological well-being so much that people are more willing to speak up, knowing others are in the same boat.
As Dr. Chew Yat Peng, senior counselor at the nonprofit O’Joy, says: “Seeing a psychiatrist, psychologist, or counselor for mental health issues has become as normal and important as seeing a doctor. for physical health problems.”
Last September, a survey commissioned by The Straits Times showed that mental health had declined since the pandemic began. Three-quarters of the 1,000 respondents said they felt sad or depressed. Another two-thirds reported feeling lonely.
An earlier study from the Institute of Mental Health found that 13 percent of the population experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression. between May 2020 and June last year.
People of all ages felt the strain. Some found it difficult to endure the forced isolation, while others were annoyed by the constant presence of other people around them.
But the result is that more open conversations about mental health are now taking place. Ideally, this momentum will continue, with everyone pitching in to raise awareness of the issues and help solve the problem.
“As a community, we can strive to understand that mental health problems occur on a spectrum and will affect most people at some point in their lives,” said Dr. Chew.
This would encourage people to be kinder to others experiencing such challenges and help society become more psychologically resilient, he said.
Employers also have a role to play, said Singapore Counseling Center wellness director John Shepherd Lim. For example, companies could consult with mental health professionals to refine their policies to better support employee well-being.
Nationwide, hospitals are expanding their psychiatric services and the Government is considering establishing a permanent mental health office.
Four areas need worksaid the Minister of State for Health, Janil Puthucheary, at his ministry’s budget debate in March.
These are: strengthening family supports and services, improving mental health literacy, increasing access to mental health care, and providing job support for people with mental health conditions.
Having an open discussion about mental health is always daunting. But as Covid-19 has shown, mental wellness is a necessary complement to physical wellness, and we neglect it at our peril.
