Help is on hand for students

This post came out from The Straits Times (14 August 2016)

As places where most teens spend the bulk of the time, schools have in place various progrrammes to help young people who are troubled. A Ministry of Education (MOE) spokesman told The Sunday Times that schools work with parents and the community to provide networks of support in the home, school and community settings.

The spokesman said that teachers are taught to identify students who show signs of distress and to provide basic counselling support. Student can also help their peers. For example, at Holy nnocents' High School, care representatives are appointed in every class to watch out for classmates who might be emotionally disturbed, anxious or stressed. They also encourage their peers to seek help and serve as mediators when needed.

What schools are doing to help distress young people has come under the spotlight after it was reported that suicides among those aged 10 to 19 hit a 15 year high last year. MOE also works closely with the Ministry of Social and Family Development and other agencies to provide support to parents. This can come in the form of talks and workshops to share tips with parents on how to support their children's social and emotional development, and help them build resilience in their children.

Making students aware of mental health issues is important because they can help support distressed peers appropriately. Ms Lee Yi Ping, senior youth support worker for the Community Health Assessment Team, a national outreach and mental health check programme under IMH,  said eight in 10 successful suicides have prior warnings. Many young people prefer to confide in their friends, who may not have the maturity to deal with such issues, she said. 'As friends of youth who have suicidal thoughts, they should focus on being supportive and provide a listening ear instead of coming up with solutions for the problems. They need to help their distressed friend seek help by approaching a trusted adult such as a parent, teacher, counsellor, or other professionals.'

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

Mental health initiative seeks to reach beyond stigma

This post came out from My Paper (25 August 2014)

People who avoid seeking help for their mental conditions because of stigma are the ones the community mental health and dementia support network led by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) hopes to reach out to.

First introduced in 2012, the pilot initiative has benefited more than 4,500 people, with its outreach programmes reaching out to more than 21,000 to date. It plans to put in place full integrated networks - already available in the northern and central regions - in the east and west by 2016.

Divided into three levels, the first level - the Community Resource Team (CREST) - is the initial point of contact for identifying residents who are at risk of mental health issues. Besides linking them to services and assistance as well as providing emotional support to clients and caregivers, outreach programmes are also organised. CREST is embedded int the community to raise the public's mental health awareness and identify people who are at risk of mental health conditions - such as dementia or depression - or those who tend not to seek help in fear of public stigma. CREST then taps the existing community networks of Senior Activity Centres and voluntary welfare groups to do its work.

Clients who are referred to the next level, the Community Intervention Team, will see allied health professionals such as mental health counsellors, nurses and psychologists to receive counselling, psychosocial therapeutic interventions and support services. Complementing their efforts are general practitioners who can encourage patients to seek help early. So far, 63 GPs have been recruited. The target is 100 by 2016.

Medical care and treatment are provided to clients with mild to modest health conditions at the last level - the Assessment and Shared Care Team - which consists of multidisciplinary care teams led by doctors.

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

New help centre for carers of mentally ill

This post came out from The Straits Times (4 August 2014)

Caregivers of people with mental illness can look forward to more help and support with the opening of a new centre at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). Staff and volunteers from the Caregivers Support Centre, located at the entrance of IMH, will be on hand to reach out to and befriend distressed caregivers who may be there with their loved ones, to offer counselling or just a listening ear.

The centre was established in December last year with funding from National Council of Social Service (NCSS). Much more can be done here to support those with mental illness and the people around them, said the council. According to the Singapore Mental Health Study released three years ago, more than one in 10 people in Singapore will be stricken by mental illness in their lifetime. In the study, depression emerged as the most pervasive mental illness here, projected to affect 170,000 adults at some stage of their life.

The support centre at IMH is run by the Caregivers Alliance, the only organisation here whose sole aim is to help caregivers of mentally ill persons.

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

Portal to help youth gain mental wellness

This post came out from The Straits Times (2 November 2015)

Youth struggling with depression, anxiety, stress or other mental health issues will soon be able to be "adopted" by an anonymous online mentor who can provide a listening ear. Circle of Care, a website focusing on mental wellness and well-being, will go live on Saturday.

While there are "islands of help" available here, such as professional counselling services and chat services provided by mental health groups, founders Mr and Mrs Chow hope to provide comprehensive and sustained support for each young person's journey towards attaining mental wellness by creating a close online community and offering a range of services.

Nine trained volunteers will be on board to provide at least four hours of online support a week to people aged between 15 and 35. Additionally, the platform will provide self-help resources such as guides on simple activities that boost wellness, such as deep breathing, that can be integrated into day-to-day routines.

Users can also contact mental health professionals, or sign up for free workshops, talks and classes conducted by Over the Rainbow on a weekly basis. Over the Rainbow is a non profit organisation founded by Mr and Mrs Chow to promote mental wellness among young people.


Thoughts:

1. Recently there has been more talks on mental health (or maybe i gain more awareness of this topic), and this targets specifically at young people. I think it is important that there is a friend/ mentor to guide them through, but at the same time, we also need to put in place mechanisms to identify people experiencing such challenges.
2. How can we also broach such topics with loved ones without them getting defensive?

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

Calls to mental health hotline surge by 70%

This post came out from The Straits Times (5 October 2015)

Calls to the Mental Health Helpline have surged after the hotline was opened to the public last year. The number of calls jumped by 70 per cent to 16,500 last year, compared with 9.800 in 2013 and 9,000 the year before.

It used to be a crisis line to help patients who have been discharged from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and their caregivers. But IMH opened the helpline to all in October last year, in the hope that the community can flag potential cases.

"The fact that calls increased by quite a bit shows that there is a need for such a service and that people now not only know where to call, but they are also more willing and concerned about the mental health of those around them," said helpline counsellor Dezmund Soh, 35.

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said last year that a whole of community approach is required to manage mental illness. "Family, friends and neighbours are the closest to those who have early signs of mental illness... they are in the best position to pick up signs and promote early treatment," he said.

IMH associate consultant Kelvin Ng said that this is especially important as a significant proportion of those who suffer from mental illness do not seek help. The 10 trained counsellors who man the 24 hour hotline provide the public tips on what to do if they suspect mental illness in a person. If the person needs immediate help, an appointment will be arranged or the mental health team will make a home visit. The counsellors also advise callers on how to defuse crises and link them up with appropriate social services.

While counsellors used to deal mainly with clinical issues such as preventing relapse and ensuring medication compliance, they now deal with more social issues such as cases of hoarding behaviour, which are referred to the town councils. Two in three calls last year were from IMH patients and their caregivers while the rest were from family members, neighbours, friends and community agencies. Most callers needed only quick advise but a third of the cases needed follow up treatment or other intervention.

Community agencies have also found the hotline useful. One agency alerted it to a resident who had paranoia and was damaging his neighbour's properties. He was taken in for psychiatric treatment and no longer disturbs his neighbours.

The IMH's Mental Health Helpline does not diagnose or counsel, but the Singapore Association of Mental Health runs a counselling helpline.

The Mental Health Helpline is 6389 2222.


Thoughts:

1. I thought it would be useful to share this article as stressors in life (not just those who needs help) would potentially affect someone mentally. It is important for us to learn how to identify, and help these people so that they receive treatment early. At the same time, raising awareness also allows the community to better understand the challenges experienced by people with mental illness (and their caregivers), thus promoting better community support and understanding. 

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big

Team to tackle mental health services into homes

This post came out from Today (18 June 2014)

With a survey finding that most Singaporeans do not have direct access to mental health services, the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) is hoping to address this with a new programme that will see those at risk of psychiatric conditions receiving home visits.

The Mobile Support Team (MST) was one of the three community mental health programmes launched at the association's Jurong East centre yesterday. SAMH president Daniel Fung said: "For some patients - especially the elderly and those who are sometimes trapped physically - they are trapped emotionally, (where) because of their illness they are frightened of going out. We can go to their homes, providing support (to) their doorsteps."

Findings from the Singapore Mental Health study conducted by the Institute of Mental Health in 2011 revealed that only one in three persons with mental illness have access to services. Up to 70 per cent of those who need help are not linked to services in the community as well. Aiming to close this gap, the programme will see a multi-disciplinary team of allied health professionals - such as case workers and peer specialists - pay home visits to those at risk of psychiatric conditions. The SAMH will work with grassroots leaders to identify at risk persons and the public can also approach it if they need help.

Another programme launched yesterday was the Bukit Gombak Group Homes Aftercare Services, which provides follow-ups to clients who have been discharged from the group homes. Case workers will provide continued assistance and community-integration initiatives to ensure they are well-adjusted in their new homes and reduce the risk of repeated hospitalisation.

A second drop in centre for adults recovering from psychiatric conditions has also been set up in Jurong East. Club 3R Jurong will provide rehabilitation programmes such as art, karaoke, yoga sessions that develop recreational, social and vocational skills.


Thoughts:

1. Mental health is an unseen illness which many suffers might not acknowledge and seek treatment from. Some others felt that it is a taboo to speak about it, and refused treatment after the first consultation. All these made it difficult for community living if their mental state causes distress to family, friends and neighbours.
2. I hope that there will be more timely follow ups on mental health conditions, be it a befriending team or a regular visit by the health team to such patients at their doorsteps as it would be more convenient, and more easily to keep the sickness in check.

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big