Updates on the number of Singaporeans suffering from mental illness

14 Sep 2009

Question No:  27  

Question

Name of the Person: Mr Seah Kian Peng

To ask the Minister for Health (a) how does the number of Singaporeans suffering from mental illness compare with other countries; and (b) whether he can provide a further breakdown of the number by age, gender and race.

Reply

Reply From MOH

1. There is a wide range of mental illnesses, many kinds of which are mild. As they are not notifiable diseases, we do not have precise numbers. Instead, countries conduct periodic health surveys to ascertain the prevalence of mental illness in their populations.

2. The most recent global survey was made by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2004.  WHO classified mental illnesses under two broad groupings: (a) anxiety disorders, such as generalised anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder; and (b) mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder and depression. 

3. Based on this WHO study, the prevalence in Singapore is generally lower or comparable to other developed countries. For example, the rates for anxiety were 18.2% in the United States, 12% in France, 5.3% in Japan, and 3.4% in Singapore. As for depression, the prevalence rates were 9.6% in the US, 8.5% in France, 5.6% in Singapore, and 3.1% in Japan.  

4. Some mental illnesses are more serious, such as schizophrenia, but they are less common. Information is also less readily available.  The life-time prevalence of schizophrenia is generally thought to be below 1% in most countries. This is consistent with our local estimate of 0.7%.  While schizophrenia is a serious illness, the majority of them are non-aggressive.  With proper treatment and support, they can live meaningful and productive lives in the community.

5. We do not have nationwide statistics.  As an indication, Table 1 provides the breakdown of the profile of the outpatients treated in the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), bearing in mind that IMH sees patients at the more serious end of the spectrum. 

Table 1 – Profile of IMH outpatients (2008)