With many people in Singapore suffering from mental illness but not seeking treatment, the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) said it has been conducting a two-year study to gain insight into Singaporeans' understanding and attitudes towards mental conditions, so that more can recognise their conditions and seek help early.
Findings from a 2010 Singapore Mental Health Study showed that as many as 96.2 per cent of those who had suffered from alcohol abuse had never sought help or treatment. It was the same with those who had an obsessive compulsive disorder or a major depressive disorder. Ninety per cent of the former and 59.6 per cent of the latter had never sought help or treatment.
The research team hopes the study's results will encourage the early recognition of mental illness, leading to treatment. The information gleaned will also help with policy planning and result in more targeted public education programmes on mental health. The results will be shared with agencies such as the Health Promotion Board and the Agency for Integrated Care.
Category(s):Mental Health in Asia
Source material from Today
