Sound of Mind, Singapore (2026)

19/01/2023

"Why am I still exhausted after sleeping 8 hours last night?"

We’ve all been there, and it’s quite literally exhausting when you don’t feel rested. It’s even more frustrating when you can’t understand why. It turns out there may be something more to “not feeling rested” despite getting enough sleep.

Enter, the "Rest Revolution".

10/10/2022

As part of World Mental Health Day, we are working together with Cadence on a music video for their newly released single “Inside My Head”.

Lyrically, the song takes a more somber note, as frontman Seth Chiam explains. “The lyrics were written about difficulties I experienced communicating my fears openly. They were written around the time I went to see a therapist for the first time where I realised how much I had ‘bottled up’, and subsequently had to learn how to deal with them. The song became my way of casting these fears into the light”.

Listen to their music on Spotify here https://open.spotify.com/track/33wwfJWG2IAE6DIdHUbyzH?si=822e7b73c15c40b9 , and check back this space for the launch event for Inside My Head MV.

28/06/2022

The survey, conducted by the inter-university network, saw 470 respondents across the National University of Singapore , Nanyang Technology University, Singapore , Singapore Institute of Technology , Singapore Management University and SUTD Singapore University of Technology & Design . The inter-university network released the results of the survey in the UCare Mental Health Report on Tuesday (Jun 21), alongside recommendations to better support the mental health and well-being of undergraduates.

The study found that 49 per cent of undergraduates surveyed prefer to address mental health issues on their own, even though there is “a high awareness” of the avenues of support in their universities. About one in five respondents said they feared those around them would judge them if they used the professional avenues of help provided in universities and student-led initiatives. While undergraduates were fearful of being stigmatised and judged for seeking mental health support, nearly every respondent was willing to lend a hand to someone who needed support or was in distress.

The survey also revealed that self-confidence, career prospects and personal relationships were also key sources of stress, ranking in second, third and fourth place respectively after the 89 per cent who ranked work and study commitments as the top stressors. Undergraduates feel that there is a “deep-seated and unhealthy obsession” with grades, because employers maintain that academic grades are still the primary indicator used to screen candidates for hire. Unfortunately, such stress leads to the joy of learning often diminishing within this highly competitive environment, and students primarily focus on chasing grades and outdoing their peers instead of enjoying the process of learning.

The poll by the Inter-University Network (IUN) also found that three in four respondents want greater support for their academics, which includes having grace days — "allowable delays beyond a specified deadline that can be applied to all assignments" — as well as helping students with learning disabilities and mental distress. Respondents also indicated a desire for changes to academic policies, including increasing the degree of flexibility in the academic curriculum and allowing students to plan their academic pathway semester by semester.

24/06/2022

Many people have reported feeling anxious after the reopening, with symptoms including heart palpitations, a sense of dread, feeling short of breath or panic attacks. A spokesman for SHINE Children & Youth Services said some clients had experienced anxiety symptoms from being in public and crowded areas before the pandemic, but had forgotten these experiences after working from home.

In the United States, the American Psychological Association said in May 2021 that around half of the people polled for its Stress In America survey felt uneasy about having to readjust to face-to-face interactions post-pandemic. In the United Kingdom, 36 per cent of respondents in an Anxiety UK survey in March 2021 were "quite happy to stay at home".

A local study of 1,058 participants by the Institute of Mental Health amid the pandemic in 2020 found that 9.4 per cent had met the criteria for clinical anxiety and 8.7 per cent for clinical depression. The Shine spokesman advised people to seek help for their mental health once it starts to disrupt their ability to do things in their daily life and persistently affects their mood, appetite and sleep patterns.

21/06/2022

As part of a national study that aims to gauge how prevalent mental health conditions are in youths and their emotional resilience, the National University of Singapore, in collaboration with Ministry of Education, Singapore and the Institute of Mental Health, has uncovered some preliminary survey findings on mental health among youths in Singapore.

About 1 in 3 young people in Singapore has mental health symptoms, with those aged 14 to 16 having more serious symptoms, scoring lower in resilience, compared with other age groups, which suggests that more attention should be given to address their mental health needs. Meanwhile, roughly one in six young people said they experienced externalising mental health symptoms, such as hyperactivity, rule-breaking and aggression.

Young people facing mental health issues can soon receive care closer to their homes under a new community-based programme. Club H.E.A.L , Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH), Singapore Children's Society and TOUCH Community Services have been roped in under a pilot to help those aged between 13 and 19, and who have mild-to-moderate symptoms. Under the initiative, they will get help for conditions such as stress-related disorders, depression, addictions and self-harm behaviour.

24/12/2021

Losing one’s job can take a toll on their mental health and this became more common amid the Covid-19 crisis, especially with “The Great Resignation Movement”. This has become a worldwide phenomenon and psychologists are seeing more distressed individuals seeking help due to job loss or retrenchment.

Mr Praveen Nair, a psychologist at Raven Counselling and Consultancy, shared that the global pandemic has caused existing levels of anxiety to heighten as economies crash, people lose their jobs and are dying from Covid-19. On the other hand, Dr Joel Yang, a clinical psychologist at Mind What Matters, noted that social distancing and restrictions have impaired social support for those retrenched. This was evident in the increase in calls to the Samaritans of Singapore’s (SOS) helpline. SOS Chief Executive, Gasper Tan, shared that from March to August 2021, it has received an average of 144 calls per month regarding job loss or unemployment.

17/12/2021

As we are in the last month of 2021, let's do a quick check - how has your mental health been this year? Apparently, a survey found that two in five singles in Singapore say that their mental health has worsened in 2021. Does this ring true for you?

A matchmaking firm, Lunch Actually, conducted an annual survey among 500 singles in Singapore, with the aim to provide insight into their dating goals and journey. For the first time since it started in 2009, the survey included questions about the mental health and happiness of singles. It found that nearly twice of older singles are likely to feel that their mental health is worse compared to younger singles, with more women saying they felt worse compared to men. In addition, more than half indicated that they felt lonely, stressed or stuck.

The three main factors identified that caused the worsening of mental health in singles were all Covid-19 related, which has negatively affected their views of dating. Almost half of them said they did not feel confident or did not feel like going on dates. Half of respondents indicated that they had not gone on any physical date this year, adding that safety concerns made it difficult for them to get closer to their dates. Half of singles are also not as inclined to date someone who is not fully vaccinated.

10/12/2021

Musicians, like any of us, are human and experience big life changes or even, mental health issues at the scrutiny of thousands of people. Adele, one of the biggest female vocal powerhouses, is no different.

Adele went through a high-profile divorce and although she tried to keep it private, fans quickly expected new music that was based on the separation. The pressure from the public made the process difficult as she was already struggling with the breakup and going through anxiety. She shared with Rolling Stone that she has turned her life around and found new ways to gain control over her mental health - one of them being exercise. She has also tried sound bath, ancient meditative practice, giving up drinking for six months, and travelling to soothe her anxiety.

Most importantly, she has turned her pain into one of her most honest albums yet - 30. Her time in the studio recording the album would consist of a "six-hour therapy session" where she would unpack what she was going through at the moment, then spend the next two to three days producing a song that is a cut from her emotional bank. '30' is now one of the fastest-selling albums in 2021 with 261,000 chart sales in its first week. The album's lead single, 'Easy On Me', which directly addresses her divorce, has remained number one on the charts for a sixth consecutive week. Upon release, the single broke multiple major records, including the most streamed song in a day and week on Spotify.

03/12/2021

Have you been feeling tired, burnt out or stressed lately? Here's why - the Covid-19 pandemic has forced us into isolation and its mental health implications have had a domino effect on our overall health. It has become increasingly difficult to keep on top of our physical health as we struggle to adapt to the constant changes and the anxiety of financial and social pressures. You may start experiencing signs of anxiety and depression, such as feeling closed off, not having any motivation or not eating properly.

Experts say that our bodies and minds are interconnected, so if you suffer from mental health issues, then your body will start to feel the impact - and vice versa. According to a study by the American Psychological Association, headaches are associated with chronic muscle tension in the shoulders, neck and head. Pain in the lower back and upper limbs has also been linked to stress at work. As our emotional condition often mirrors our immune responses, you can improve your mental health by simply boosting your physical health - go for a brisk walk, pick up a new skill or do some yoga.

Look out for the early signs of poor mental health and pick up ways to improve your mental health that best work for you! If you are struggling with your mental health, please seek medical advice or professional help.

26/11/2021

Last week, we looked at trends of workplace mental health in the U.S., based on the 2021 Mind Share Partners' Mental Health at Work report. Mental health is not an individual's responsibility to address alone with self-care, mental health days or employee benefits. Thus we need to look deeper into how a company's role can affect an employee's mental health and what employers can do to make real change.

There are certain workplace factors that are not sustainable and can negatively impact an employee's mental health. 84% of respondents reported at least one workplace factor that has hurt their mental health, with younger employees and those from underrepresented groups feeling more affected. However, 54% believed that mental health was prioritised at their company. 47% believed that their company leaders were mental health advocates at work and that their managers were equipped to support them through mental health conditions or symptoms. These could have resulted from increased training and discussion.

When employers support their employees with mental health at work, they benefit through better engagement outcomes. Respondents that felt supported with their mental health were less likely to experience mental health symptoms and underperform or miss work. On the contrary, they are more likely to feel comfortable talking about mental health at work, resulting in higher job satisfaction and intentions to stay. They also had a more positive outlook on their company, resulting in them having more trust and pride at work This reinforces the connection between workplace culture and its ability to support mental health.

Overall, employees require a stigma-free culture and an environment of transparency and openness. We hope that more organisations will adopt these solutions to achieve true cultural change and help improve their employees' mental health. Do your companies adopt any of these methods? How have they helped YOU? Share with us in the comments below!

19/11/2021

Within the past two years since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, there has been more awareness of mental health, especially as employees have started feeling burnout and digital fatigue from blurring working hours. In a follow-up study from October 2019, Mind Share Partners' 2021 Mental Health at Work Report shows a comparison of the state of mental health, stigma and work culture in U.S. workplaces before and during the pandemic.

The report found that there has been a normalisation of mental health conversations at work and an increasing need to address the stigma, which comes as a silver lining amidst the disruption of Covid-19. In 2020, mental health support went from being a commodity to a necessity and there has been a greater emphasis on the contributing factors to poor mental health in workplaces. Therefore, it is not enough to simply offer the latest wellness apps or use euphemisms, such as "mental wellbeing", without actually connecting what they say to what they do. Although initiatives, such as mental health days, four-day work weeks and enhanced counselling were implemented, employees require a sustainable and mentally-healthy workplace that takes real culture change.

So, how do workplaces and employers create a change in mental health and ensure a more sustainable environment? Next week, we'll explore the company's role in mental health and what employers can do to provide for its employees. Stay tuned for Part 2!

Sound of Mind

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