Doctor Heals

29/07/2025

29/07/2025

26/07/2025

22/07/2025

314 su***des reported in Singapore in 2024, remains leading cause of youth deaths

"SINGAPORE - A total of 314 su***de deaths were reported in Singapore in 2024, with the highest increase recorded among adults aged 30 to 39.

Su***de remained the leading cause of death for young people aged 10 to 29 for a sixth consecutive year, according to data from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) Report on Registration of Births and Deaths 2024, which was published in July.

Of the 314 su***de deaths in 2024, 64.3 per cent – or 202 – of the cases were males, like in previous years."

Read more:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/314-su***des-reported-in-singapore-in-2024-remains-leading-cause-of-youth-deaths

***de

Su***de remained the leading cause of deaths for young people aged 10 to 29 for a sixth consecutive year. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

01/07/2025

No health without mental health - Who will care for caregivers?

"SINGAPORE – As the mother of a son with a serious mental health condition, Ms Evelyn Chng knows full well the challenges of caregiving, and the importance of having support.

Today, she works for social service agency Caregivers Alliance Limited (CAL), where she connects new caregivers with support in psychoeducation, training or counselling. CAL is the only social service agency focused on caregiving that has an outpost at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH).

Ms Chng said caring for loved ones with mental health problems can lead to social isolation, financial difficulties and emotional turmoil. She can spot the negative emotions such as anger, aggression, frustration, low self-esteem, constant worry and feelings of helplessness. "

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/who-will-care-for-the-caregivers

Looking after caregivers' health and early education will ensure more people can be cared for in the community. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

31/05/2025

"In the workplace, the same effect can drive preparation, for instance, mentally rehearsing what to say in a meeting or revisiting a task list before work, Dr Tan said.

“It’s useful, but only as long as you act on it. If you don’t, the weight compounds. The effect lingers in the background, draining your energy.”

Ms Eunice Lim, clinical psychologist from therapy outfit Heartscape Psychology, said that when this happens, it could contribute to fatigue, burnout, and negative self-beliefs around competence, especially in individuals with perfectionistic tendencies."

Read more:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/today/adulting/unfinished-tasks-weigh-mind-zeigarnik-5146056

The Zeigarnik effect is the brain’s way of keeping tabs on unfinished tasks, mentally flagging them more prominently than those that are completed.

28/05/2025

"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."

Read more:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/lancet-study-shows-mental-disorders-significantly-impact-youth-aged-10-14-in-singapore

The disease burden of mental disorder in Singapore is highest in Asean. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

27/05/2025

Are you getting enough sleep?

People in Asia have fewer weekend lie-ins and more variable sleep on weekdays

"People in Asia are known to report worse sleep than their counterparts in Europe and North America. New research, using objective measures of sleep rather than subjective reports, has shown that not only do people in Asia go to sleep later and have shorter sleep, they also have lower sleep quality than those in other parts of the world.

Additionally, their sleep during the work week is more variable and they do not extend their sleep as much at the weekend. "

Read more:
https://news.nus.edu.sg/global-differences-in-weekly-sleep-variability-and-sleep-extension

People in Asia are known to report worse sleep than their counterparts in Europe and North America. New research, using objective measures of sleep rather than subjective reports, has shown that not only do people in Asia go to sleep later and have shorter sleep, they also have lower sleep quality t...

23/05/2025

🧠 Mental health is also part of our overall health

We go to the doctor when we're physically sick.
Why not seek help when our mind is hurting?

Therapy isn’t weakness. Medication isn’t failure. Taking care of your mental health is a form of strength — and it's one we should be proud of.

📚 Self-care
💬 Speak up
🤝 Seek support

02/04/2025

1 in 3 Singapore youths experienced severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress: IMH study

Channel News Asia: "A mental health study on youths in Singapore showed about one in three reported experiencing severe or extremely severe symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress.

The research, led by the Institute of Mental Health, involved face-to-face interviews with 2,600 people aged between 15 and 35 years old. Those who went through cyberbullying, had moderate to severe concerns about their body shape, or spent more than three hours daily on social media were more likely to report these symptoms.

In terms of seeking help, the study found that about two in three did so. As for those who did not seek help, one reason is the worry of what others may think of them. Sabrina Ng reports."

Learn more:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/1-3-singapore-youths-experienced-severe-symptoms-depression-anxiety-stress-imh-study-4618831

A mental health study on youths in Singapore showed about one in three reported experiencing severe or extremely severe symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress. The research, led by the Institute of Mental Health, involved face-to-face interviews with 2,600 people aged between 15 and 35 years old....