Psychological help in current economic downturn

24 Mar 2009

Question No:  953  

Question

Name of the Person: Dr Lam Pin Min

To ask the Minister for Health (a) if there is a surge in the number of patients seeking psychiatric/psychological help in hospitals in the recent months; and (b) whether the Health Promotion Board will introduce appropriate mental health programmes to build the psychological resilience of Singaporeans during this economic downturn.

Reply

Reply From MOH

1. With greater awareness and reduced stigmatisation of mental illness, we have served a steadily increasing number of patients seeking psychiatric help.  Last year, there were 17,000 new attendances at public psychiatric clinics, an increase of 900 compared with 2007.  This increase was consistent with the trend seen in the past 10 years.

2.  Promoting an emotionally resilient society is one of our priorities, whether in good time or bad. The Health Promotion Board has an active nationwide workplace mental health education programme, called “Treasure Your Mind”.  

3. With the current economic downturn, HPB has updated it. For working adults, there are workshops to equip them with the skills to manage day to day stresses with a practical and positive frame of mind. They will also be taught to understand and recognise depression and anxiety, in order to seek help early. Specific courses for supervisors and union leaders provide knowledge on how to render support to other employees or refer them for appropriate help. HPB will work with SNEF, NTUC, and MOM to reach out to vulnerable employees and their families.

4. In addition, we have set up an employers-led alliance that brings together like-minded employers from various sectors to champion workplace mental wellbeing. This is led by Mr Hsieh Fu Hua, CEO of Singapore Exchange (SGX). They have identified a set of good practices to promote employee mental wellbeing and will encourage other employers to adopt them.

5. For the community, talks, seminars, and forums will be conducted at community clubs, CDCs, public libraries, and other public venues, to address the psycho-emotional impact of the economic crisis on the individual, the family and the community.  HPB has also brought together several NGOs to collaborate and implement such programmes.

6. Next month, a public education campaign on Optimism for Mental Resilience will be rolled out.  This aims to reach every Singaporean, with the message that “bad times don’t last forever”, and motivate everyone to take charge by adopting a positive attitude so that they will emerge stronger from this crisis.