No health without mental health

Ask a Therapist Treatment & Recovery
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Hi friends!

I’ve seen how long wait times and the stigma around mental health can discourage people from seeking help and it’s truly disheartening, especially when I know how much support is out there if people could access it more easily. But I’m feeling hopeful because the way mental health care is being handled here is starting to change :slight_smile:

There’s been talk about moving care into the community instead of relying solely on hospitals like IMH. I think this is a really positive shift! For so long, the first thought when someone needed mental health care was, “I need to go to IMH.” But now, with more hotlines, text services, and local centers popping up, people can get help faster and closer to home. The idea is to make it easier to reach out, and I think this will make a real difference.

I’m also excited about the plans for family doctors and polyclinics to offer mental health services. This means people won’t always have to wait for a specialist – they can get the support they need from their usual healthcare providers. It’s a much more integrated approach, and I feel it could really take the pressure off larger institutions while helping people earlier in their journey.

What’s most encouraging to me is that the government seems committed to making mental health a priority. They’re not just increasing the number of professionals, but also creating a system where care is more accessible. I’ve seen people avoid getting help because they’re worried about the stigma or losing their job, and I hope these changes will help reduce those fears.

I also know that there’s still a lot of work to be done, but I feel like we’re moving in the right direction :') The more we talk about mental health and make it easier for people to seek help, the more we can create a society that understands and supports mental well-being.

As Dr Janil said, “If you have access to care in the community, if you have access to a number of providers who are providing care… then your ability to get care sooner will be increased and improved,” (see this article)

What are your thoughts about Singapore inching towards this transformation for mental health? :slight_smile: For example, would you be more inclined to seek mental health support help from a clinic/GP? Share with us your thoughts and questions (if any)!

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I remember a long long long time ago I had symptoms of anxiety and the GP suggested gently for me to see “someone else” though he didn’t mention who… I think at that point there was still that stigma about mental health and I think doctors were cautious about suggesting to patients that they might have a condition.

Now when I see GPs for a common cold or something (i.e non-mental health concerns), and if they’re aware of my mental health conditions, they usually do check in with how I’m feeling, whether I’ve been taking my medication and how that’s working for me. Even if they’re meeting me for the first time.

When I was in school, there wasn’t a school counsellor for most of the time until right before I graduated. And I remember when we expressed curiosity about counselling most people would tell us that it’s for people with “problems” or “problem kids” only and the peers who went for counselling were heavily judged.

Now it’s definitely more common to hear people around me go for counselling from time to time even if they’re not facing any major issues just to talk about what’s going on in life with a professional, or just for some “spring cleaning” and upkeep of their mental state- Just like going to the gym.

I think conversations around 1. seeking help, 2. seeking out a professional, 3. mental health have definitely shifted by a whole lot and normalising these conversations do help reduce the stigma that people face.

Woops, did a whole detour without answering the question.

As someone who’s been to both clinics and hospitals for help, I wouldn’t say that choosing one over the other has obvious benefits other than distance (assuming that clinics are in the neighbourhood). I think it’s also because newer hospitals have been designed in a way where they no longer label their clinics with names but only by area codes (e.g A1) so that when you ask for directions, have an MC etc. the specialty is no longer listed. They also tend to move away from terms like ‘Psychiatry’ to terms like ‘Neuroscience’ or ‘Mind-Body Integration’ which to me highlights the shift towards the understanding that health is holistic and you can treat a symptom that’s a psychological manifestation, without it being a mental health condition.

I think moving forward, it would be really nice if these efforts translate into better policies for the workplace for there to be more support. Such as having more comprehensive assistance programmes, or flexible working arrangements. Also would like to hear what safeguards can be in place for caregivers of people with health conditions, as well as the elderly

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Hey @coagulate !

Your experience really shares how much progress has been made in normalizing mental health conversations. I can imagine how, a long time ago, even the gentle suggestion to “see someone else” might have felt like navigating uncharted territory, especially with the stigma surrounding mental health. It’s so nie to hear that GPs today are more proactive about checking in, even if the visit isn’t related to mental health! This change, along with how counselling is viewed, reflects how far society has come in embracing mental well-being as a priority, not just something reserved for “problem kids.”

The shift you mentioned—from calling it “Psychiatry” to terms like “Mind-Body Integration”—seems to be part of a broader move toward holistic care, which can be less intimidating and more inclusive :slight_smile: This rebranding likely helps people understand that mental health is inseparable from physical health!

Looking forward, you’re right: translating these positive changes into workplace policies is really important!! Support for employees and caregivers, through flexible work arrangements and stronger employee assistance programs, would create environments where mental health is truly prioritized. It would also provide much-needed relief for those caring for loved ones with health conditions, who often feel overlooked in the system :slight_smile:

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Mental health is becoming more important in Singapore, and the government is working hard to help people understand it better. Many programs and campaigns that teach the public about mental health and encourage people to get help when they need it.
With all the awareness, it will build a healthier and more understanding society when it comes to mental health.

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