tag:www.giftoflistening.com,2008://1 2008-05-14T14:06:56Z Movable Type 3.35 S$25m research project to identify risk factors for schizophrenia tag:www.giftoflistening.com,2008://1.145 2008-05-14T14:05:26Z 2008-05-14T14:06:56Z

S$25m research project to identify risk factors for schizophrenia By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 13 May 2008 2306 hrs 25m programme to identify genetic, biological and social risk factors relating to schizophrenia. S$25m research project to identify risk factors for schizophrenia SINGAPORE: As part of a S$25 million research programme, thousands of teenagers and young adults will be screened to see if they are at risk of schizophrenia. Among the five leading causes of disability worldwide, schizophrenia affects one per cent of the population, and usually first shows up in the teens or early adulthood. If not treated early, it can be difficult for schizophrenia patients to get their lives back on track. Most schizophrenia patients in Singapore, however, only seek help 2.5 to three years after they first experience a psychotic symptom, such as hearing voices. So the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) plans to screen thousands of 15- to 30-year-olds to identify those at high risk. Researchers will then track their progress and start treatment early, if necessary. The institute will conduct screenings at tertiary institutions, the armed forces, the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force. It will also liaise with school counsellors and general practitioners who see people that are at risk. The researchers expect about 3,000 young people to be identified as high risk. Having a family history is not the only risk factor for schizophrenia. Associate Professor Chong Siow Ann, vice chairman of IMH's medical board (research), said: "People who perhaps have some history of obstetric complications at the time of birth, and... people who use cannabis may also be at a greater risk of developing this illness." The study is part of a S$25 million programme to identify genetic, biological and social risk factors for schizophrenia. Other parts of the programme include identifying genes that cause schizophrenia and a drug trial on new treatment to improve patients' functional skills. The study is one of two projects awarded the Translational and Clinical Research Flagship Programme this year. The two research programmes were selected from eight submissions and were chosen based on their scientific merit, the strength of the research teams and their relevance to Singapore. The other S$25 million project, led by the Singapore Eye Research Institute, focuses on glaucoma and corneal diseases - the leading causes of blindness in Singapore. The Singapore National Eye Centre treats over 34,000 cases of glaucoma and 15,000 patients with corneal diseases every year. Professor Donald Tan, director of Singapore Eye Research Institute, said: "We have very little understanding or ability to modulate wound healing. And for example, in glaucoma operations, in some cases, the failure rate could be as high as 30 to 40 per cent." - CNA/ac Sketching out life anew, thanks to fund tag:www.giftoflistening.com,2008://1.144 2008-04-23T04:08:56Z 2008-04-23T04:10:01Z

Sketching out life anew, thanks to fund Diana Othman 19 April 2008 Straits Times English (c) 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Limited Mentally ill get sponsored help to manage illness and reintegrate into society FOR almost a decade, William battled schizophrenia and its symptoms. The mental conditions made the 32-year-old deeply paranoid. He grew increasingly suspicious of his family and friends, and thought they were talking behind his back. But William, who declined to reveal his full name, eventually overcame the illness and went on to earn a master's degree in civil engineering. He is now working as a draughtsman and has been with the same company for over a year. 'I am able to apply my tertiary knowledge and my boss is very understanding,' said William, who added that he was pleased with his $2,000 salary. He attributed a significant part of his success and well-being to the Woodbridge Hospital Endowment Fund, which helps rehabilitate mentally ill patients from the Institute of Mental Health/Woodbridge Hospital (IMH/WH). It supported some of the activities during William's eight-week stay in the rehabilitative ward in 2006. The fund even sponsored his participation in the 7th International Abilympics in Japan last year, where he competed with other physically and mentally challenged people in competitions that tested vocational skills. He won a bronze medal in the architectural design category. Events such as the Abilympics help those with mental problems build the confidence needed to take care of themselves and succeed, he said. First set up in 2001, the fund pools contributions and donations to provide welfare and medical care for patients of IMH/WH. They include about 1,200 long-term patients, some of whom suffer from chronic mental illness, and others who have been abandoned. Dr Tan Chue Tin, the fund's acting non-executive chairman, said money also goes into several programmes open to all patients to help them manage mental illness and reintegrate into society. He said the fund needs about $250,000 to $300,000 each year to provide subsidies for medical services for needy patients, such as helping children with learning, social and emotional problems. Money from the fund is also used in several rehabilitation programmes. These include a 'work trial' programme in which the fund pays half of a patient's salary during the first two months of employment, capped at $350 a month. This acts as an incentive for employers who might otherwise be reluctant to hire a person with a mental illness. The fund raises money mainly through donations and events such as charity golf tournaments. 'I feel grateful...because if not for this fund, I may not have recovered so fast,' said William. Dr Tan said other patients have also benefited from the fund's work. 'Beyond just medicine and nursing care, is...social, occupational and psychological rehabilitation. Some (patients) have the opportunity to go out into the community and start a new life.' The IMH is holding a charity concert tomorrow. The event, which will feature the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, is in aid of the Woodbridge Hospital Endowment Fund and also to mark the institute's 80th anniversary. diothman@sph.com.sg Charity facts Name: Woodbridge Hospital Endowment Fund Who it helps: Long-term patients and outpatients with mental disorders Money it needs each year: $250,000 to $300,000 How it raises funds: Through fund-raising events and donations Premises: Institute of Mental Health, Buangkok Green Medical Park, 10 Buangkok View How much in the kitty: $450,000 Size of staff: No paid staff. Its board has seven members who volunteer their time. Number of volunteers: 250 Is it online?: Yes, at www.imh.com.sg [http://www.imh.com.sg] Are its financial records online?: Yes Why you should donate: To help patients reintegrate into society and live productive, meaningful lives Married for 51 years tag:www.giftoflistening.com,2008://1.143 2008-04-23T04:04:57Z 2008-04-23T04:06:52Z

Mind Your Body Married for 51 years 23 April 2008 Straits Times English (c) 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Limited Tough love for the mentally ill Every marriage has its ups and downs, as any couple will testify. It is hard enough to sustain a romantic relationship if both parties are healthy and well. But it becomes even more difficult if one or both partners are ill. 'While in the past, counsellors and even parents did not encourage the mentally ill to get married, this is changing,' said Dr Lee Cheng, chief of the department of community psychiatry at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). 'Nowadays, many patients with mild mental illnesses are married. Their partner is often a pillar of support and can even act like a co-therapist, reminding them to take their medication.' IMH has just concluded a preliminary study of more than 2,000 of its own patients to analyse the needs of people with mental illness who have young children. Of the respondents with young children, 30.9per cent said that they had difficulty getting emotional support from their spouses while 28.4per cent said that they had financial difficulties. Other pertinent problems cited include difficulty in connecting emotionally with their children, as well as finding and keeping a job. While the difficulties that these people face may not seem out of the ordinary, Dr Lee said their problems are amplified because of their illness. Also, there are additional worries that are specific to such patients, like the genetic transfer of the illness. Studies have shown that mental conditions such as depression and bipolar disorder have a genetic component, which would increase the likelihood of producing a mentally ill child. Dr Lee said that he has yet to meet a couple who has avoided having children for this reason. But he has seen several cases in which a marriage involving one mentally ill spouse has produced a mentally ill child. Also, there may be difficulties with the pregnancy. 'We usually advise the woman not to take medication during the first three months of her pregnancy as this is when most foetal development takes place,' said Dr Lee. However, not taking medication to regulate a mental illness may put the woman at risk of a relapse during her pregnancy. Dr Lee said that while medication can be useful in preventing a relapse, some patients choose not to take it for other reasons. In one case, he said, a married woman stopped her medication because it had the side-effect of weight gain and she feared that if she put on weight, her husband would no longer be attracted to her. However, after she took her husband with her for a therapy session, she realised that her fears were unfounded. 'Now, her husband even reminds her to take her medication,' said Dr Lee. While a marriage in which one or both parties suffer from mental illness may face unique difficulties, it by no means suggests that it cannot be a fulfilling and healthy marriage. It is only after both parties fully know what they are dealing with that they work hand-in-hand to cope with the illness, Dr Lee said. 'Also, finding external support is as important as developing internal coping skills,' he added. Lisabel Ting THEIR LOVE WAS TESTED TO THE LIMIT In 2004, Dr Rita Goh's husband, Mr Vincent Loy, returned from an overseas trip to find his wife behaving oddly. In an e-mail interview, Dr Goh, 51, who founded and heads a company which provides counselling services for people with mental health issues, said: 'I was rolling about and pressing my head to the floor.' Shocked and worried, Mr Loy immediately called an ambulance. What he did not know then was that his wife was suffering from schizophrenia, a severe and disabling brain disease which usually hits people in their teens and early 20s, and is often a life-long problem. Dr Goh, who received a PhD in Business Administration just before her mental illness, was later also diagnosed with clinical depression. Although her mental illness was eventually brought under control with medication and psychotherapy, her struggle highlights some of the unique challenges faced by marriages in which one or both parties suffer from a mental illness. While the primary effects of a mental illness itself may be debilitating, this difficulty is exacerbated when both parties do not approach it with the same perspective. 'My husband felt that it was a spiritual issue and that medication was unnecessary. On the other hand, my belief was that it was a medical problem and treatment was key to my recovery. The contrast in our beliefs led to many arguments,' she said. However, they eventually compromised and came to the understanding that in addition to religious beliefs, taking medication was vital to Dr Goh's health. Another problem she faced was discrimination from friends and relatives. As some of them did not understand what schizophrenia was, they started to shun her. 'We try our best to educate people, telling them for example, that the majority of mentally ill people are not dangerous or violent,' she said. Dr Goh said that although her mental illness was a trying period, her marriage was an invaluable source of encouragement and strength. 'Our love has been tested to the limit through many crises, but I'm glad to say that our relationship remains as strong as ever.' Strain Tension tag:www.giftoflistening.com,2008://1.141 2008-04-23T04:00:16Z 2008-04-23T04:01:26Z

STRAIN TENSION Genevieve Jiang 16 April 2008 The New Paper English Copyright 2008, Singapore Press Holdings Limited Man who heads caregivers' association says: Don't take my photo. My bosses and colleagues don't know And his daughter once said: Daddy, someone's telling me to kill myself THOSE with mental illness are sometimes so difficult to care for that their family members give up on them. These patients end up abandoned in mental hospitals and nursing homes, with no one to pick up the tab. But for caregivers who stay by their mentally-ill family members, the emotional strain can take its toll. It is telling when even the man who founded the first and only national association here for caregivers of the mentally ill declined to have his photograph published for this report. His deputy in the association declined to be interviewed. Mr Michael Pang, 58, head of the Caregivers Association of the MentallyIll (Cami), said: 'None of my colleagues and bosses knows of my involvement in Cami and my family members do not want too many people to know. 'It's not that we want to feel different, but people view the mentally ill differently.' GROWING NEED FOR HELP Such is the reality faced by a small group of caregivers here, and the numbers appear to be growing. Starting with fewer than 10 members three years ago, Cami now has more than 80 members who are caregivers. Cami, which has not had funding for the past three years, provides support and refers these caregivers to the various community services available here. The association holds weekly support group meetings at the Simei Care Centre. Last year, it started a hotline (6782-9371) that will refer caregivers to the relevant service providers. Cami became a member of the National Council of Social Service on 1 Apr. Providing support for those who care for their mentally-ill loved ones is a cause that Mr Pang, a civil servant, believes is worth fighting for. He said: 'People used to suffer in silence, but now, they are more willing to come forward and seek help. 'And it is important because, without proper resources and guidance, caregivers, too, can snap.' Mr Pang understands this strain well because he has a 31-year-old daughter with schizophrenia. He said: 'It's hard. You first go through guilt, questioning whether you are to blame for your child's ailment. 'Then you hope against hope that your child's tantrums, and delusional and suicidal episodes will go away. 'As years go by, you never stop worrying about how your child will cope when you are gone.' Mr Pang, who also has a 29-year-old daughter who is normal, did not realise his elder daughter was mentallyill until she was 18. 'When she was in primary school, teachers said she was slow in her learning. She was also extremely quiet and had very few friends.' Mr Pang thought his daughter was just shy. Teachers recommended that she see a psychologist as they suspected that she had a learning disorder, but specialists failed to detect anything. In Secondary 2, she failed her exams and had to repeat the curriculum for the next two years. At 16, she left school and took attended night classes to try and take the O levels as a private candidate, but stopped her studies after a year. She then enrolled in an Institute of Technical Education, but dropped out after a week. Mr Pang said: 'She was supposed to learn how to operate certain machines, but the instructor said she would just stare and appeared very afraid to go near the machines.' He decided to let her stop school completely. Later, she appeared depressed and withdrawn and had trouble sleeping. Mr Pang said: 'One night, she gave me a fright when she came to me, quite hysterical, and said someone was telling her to kill herself. 'She kept saying that she couldn't take it anymore and that she had to jump. 'She wouldn't calm down and kept saying, 'I can hear voices telling me to jump,' he recalled. Desperate, he took her to the emergency department of the National University Hospital (NUH), where she was hospitalised. SEDATED AND TIED That night, medical staff members had to sedate her and tie her down to the bed. She spent the next month in hospital, where she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She was then in a rehabilitation centre for nine months. A few months after she left rehab, she had a relapse, suffered bouts of depression and was hospitalised. Since her discharge, she has been having monthly checkups at NUH, where she is given medication to control her illness. And since 2005, she has been attending a day-care service at the Simei Care Centre, where she is taught simple working skills. The centre has recommended her for jobs at fast-food outlets, but Mr Pang said: 'The last time she tried was two years ago. She lasted only about two weeks. 'The supervisor there told us that they found her too slow.' She now helps to man a kiosk selling accessories at the centre. It was during the time his daughter joined the Simei Care Centre that the idea of Cami was born. Mr Pang said: 'The centre had a caregiver's network, but there were fewer than 10 of us. We realised that there was no organisation here catering to the needs of caregivers of the mentally ill.' Mr Pang, who earns about $4,000 a month, pays Simei Care Centre $200 and spends another $80 on his daughter's medication, said: 'A major worry of caregivers is how our children will cope when we are dead.' A government-backed trust fund for disabled children, where parents are allowed to set aside money that will go to their children after they die, is expected to be put in place later this year. Mr Pang wants something similar for the mentally ill. He said: 'We don't want our children to end up in a nursing home, and a burden to the state.' Caregivers who need help can call Cami's hotline at 6782-9371. They cut themselves to cope with hurt tag:www.giftoflistening.com,2008://1.142 2008-03-23T04:02:08Z 2008-04-23T04:03:01Z

They cut themselves to cope with hurt 22 March 2008 Straits Times English (c) 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Limited Teenage girls are more likely than boys to practise self-mutilation, say counsellors ALONE in her room, 15-year-old Stephanie searched for a clear landing between the livid, red scars criss-crossing her left forearm. There was none. Sighing, she placed the blade of her penknife at the base of her elbow where a wound had barely healed and dug in. Immediately, blood spurted out and numbness set in. Stephanie cuts herself whenever she feels 'emotionally unstable', usually after quarrels with friends. 'When I forget to buy things which they've asked me to, they get angry with me and I feel frustrated. That makes me want to cut so that I can feel better,' said the Secondary 3 student from an all-girls school. Her parents divorced when she was five and she lives with her mother. Sometimes, her body becomes her emotional canvas on which she carves words like 'angry', 'hurt' and 'frustrated' with her blade. Like Stephanie, many teenage girls are using self-mutilation as an outlet to cope with emotions they cannot handle, said counsellors. Besides cutting their skin with sharp objects, other popular ways of self-injury include pulling at the skin or hair, burning parts of the body with wax or bruising themselves. Counsellors and social workers noted that the trend of self-mutilation is prevalent in all-girls schools. Denise, 16, said that in her Normal (Academic) class of 42 girls, she knows of at least five others who cut themselves. Watching them in action piqued her curiosity. She said she first cut herself in the classroom after being badmouthed by friends. 'I borrowed a penknife and cut a few lines,' she said, adding that she felt calmer afterwards. No one tried to stop her. A social worker at Denise's school confirmed this. Out of every 10 students she has counselled there, about seven were practising self-mutilation, said Mrs Rachael Lim of Care Community Services Society. 'I suspected that many students were doing it. Almost every time I talked to a student, she would have issues about self-harm. It got a little scary,' she recalled. The numbers dropped tremendously to about three out of every 10 troubled students last year after counsellors conducted sessions with the girls to discuss the dangers of self-mutilation. 'We helped them to explore alternatives to cutting and introduced more positive coping skills like music and sports,' she said. Counsellors and social workers noted that more teenage girls than boys take to cutting themselves. According to Ms Eileen Chua, assistant director of Lakeside Family Centre, this is because boys express themselves in other ways. They usually take out their hurt and frustration through sports or smoking and drinking. Another reason is girls' susceptibility to peer pressure, said social worker Joyz Tan from Fei Yue Community Services. 'It used to be that when you had a problem, you'd share it with me, we'd talk about it and that'd be it,' she said. 'But now, when they know that their friends cut themselves and they see their scars, they think the way to cope with problems is to cut.' Ms Melissa Lim, centre director of Students Care Service (Yishun), termed this group 'copy-cutters'. One of them is Shuling, 15, who tried to emulate her fashionably dysfunctional friends, then got hooked. 'It's harmless fun. I like to see the blood flow. When my skin splits open, I feel like a paper being torn,' she said. Many believe they are hurting no one but themselves. But there are instances when the cuts get too deep, the bleeding won't stop, or the wounds get infected and the girls end up in hospital. Also, cutting to relieve tension can be addictive. Consultant psychiatrist Daniel Fung, who is chief of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Institute of Mental Health, likens it to getting a runner's high. 'When there is pain, the body releases a natural anaesthetic agent called endorphins. These are hormones which reduce the pain and make you happy. 'If you keep cutting, you'll get addicted to the whole process,' he warned. Doctors also warned that if girls are not taught healthier ways to vent their frustrations, they may continue to turn to self-mutilation as a coping mechanism even in adulthood. 'They feel so much pain on the inside that they need to feel it on the outside, so it ends up as physical wounds which they can see, feel and touch,' said Dr Geraldine Tan, a psychologist at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre. 'It's a reminder that they're okay.' Dr Tan added that teens who display their wounds are crying for attention and parents must act quickly. She advised parents to look out for tell-tale signs such as the frequent use of plasters and ointment. Ultimately, the only way to help self-mutilators is to be there for them with a listening ear, she said. Xiuping, 19, used to cut herself two years ago whenever she quarrelled with her boyfriend. She stopped after being reassured that others care for her. 'Nowadays, I'd find friends to share my problems with. If they're busy, then I'd find something else to do, like read or do housework,' said the Institute of Technical Education student. It has been three months since Stephanie last cut herself, but the scars on her forearm are still visible. She now knows that the relief from cutting is only temporary. 'Although I feel a bit better after cutting, I know the scars will remain there forever,' she said. Names of the girls have been changed to protect their identities SEEING THE HURT "They feel so much pain on the inside that they need to feel it on the outside, so it ends up as physical wounds which they can see, feel and touch. It's a reminder that they're okay." DR GERALDINE TAN, a psychologist at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre When happiness hurts one and all tag:www.giftoflistening.com,2008://1.140 2008-03-23T03:35:03Z 2008-04-23T03:45:35Z

When happiness hurts one and all 22 March 2008 Business Times Singapore English (c) 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Limited Bipolar disorder leads to mood swings that can be extremely disruptive to life, reports MELISSA HENG HAPPINESS is a state that all of us aspire to, but unaccounted bouts of happiness or euphoria isn't normal and may be a warning sign that something's not quite right. 'When you mention depression, most people understand that's not normal, but seeking treatment for being extremely happy is something else,' says Adrian Wang, a consultant psychiatrist in private practice. There exists a mental illness known as bipolar disorder, which leads to unexplained periods of manic euphoria, only to be followed by intense depression, he says. 'Bipolar disorder in simple terms is a mood disorder, characterised by dramatic swings of mood and varying degrees of energy at any given time,' explains Dr Wang. A person suffering from bipolar disorder may be in the throes of depression for days or weeks, then suddenly flip over to a manic 'high' and feel exceedingly happy for no particular reason. Such mood swings can be extremely disruptive to normal life and even to colleagues, friends and family. And here's the scary part - about two in every 100 Singaporeans will be at risk of bipolar disorder at some point in their lives. It can strike at any age, but typically bipolar disorder rears its ugly head when a person is in his 20s or 30s, and women are as likely as men to suffer from it. The causes of bipolar disorder are not fully understood. However, a combination of biological, genetic and environmental factors appear to trigger and perpetuate the chemical imbalances in the brain, says Heinz Grunze, professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom. According to Prof Grunze, bipolar disorder tends to run in families and the first-degree relatives of people with bipolar disorder have a 5-10 per cent lifetime risk of developing the illness. Bipolar disorder can also skip generations and take different forms in different individuals. Researchers are trying to find genes that may be involved in causing bipolar disorder, but some people with the illness have no history of it whatsoever in their family. 'Stress can be a mediating factor when it comes to the onset of mental illnesses. It acts as a trigger, often stimulating the patient during important periods of their lives,' notes Prof Grunze. For example, a job change can bring about a lot of stress such as adapting to the new work environment or coping with the new job responsibilities. When these events occur, any person can feel under pressure to perform, leading to a lot of unwanted stress. Such bottled-up stress can lead to a breakdown and an onset of a bipolar episode. So what tell-tale signs should one look for? 'The symptoms of bipolar disorder depend on whether the individual is experiencing a manic or a depressive episode. A bipolar mania episode usually shows symptoms such as inflated self-esteem, occasionally coupled with delusions of grandeur,' says Prof Grunze. Patients facing a manic high set goals that are unrealistic, such as writing a novel within a day. They tend to speak very rapidly and incoherently, changing topics quickly and tend to also behave impulsively and take unusually high risks. In full-blown episodes, patients may also hallucinate and suffer from disordered thinking. At the other extreme is bipolar depression, where the person experiences a persistent feeling of despair or sadness. 'Patients often come into the clinic complaining of a reduced appetite and sense of pleasure. Furthermore, they tend to have self-esteem issues and have problems sleeping. Lastly, patients suffering from depression tend to have suicidal thoughts too, and even attempt suicide,' warns Prof Grunze. Depressive episodes usually last longer than manic episodes with most patients spending two-thirds of their illness in depressive episodes, according to Dr Wang. Diagnosis, unfortunately, isn't an exact science. 'There are no definitive scans like an MRI or X-ray. Also, there are a few other mental conditions that are similar to bipolar disorder. We usually call for a detailed history of the patient and cull information from caregivers,' says Dr Wang. The other problem with diagnosis is the lack of awareness associated with the disorder, as with other mental health issues. 'Many of my patients who suffer from bipolar disorder often have no idea that they have it and as such, don't consult a doctor. People with bipolar disorder cope with mood swings for years, and are unable to lead fulfilling and satisfactory lives. They suffer in silence, as do their loved ones, friends and families,' explains Prof Grunze. According to doctors, the mainstay of treatment for the illness is pharmacological. Drugs used to treat bipolar disorder include mood stabilisers, anti-psychotics and anti-depressants. There is currently no cure for bipolar disorder. 'Even though bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness, suitable treatments are available. Such treatment methods usually involve both medication and counselling therapy. The drug Seroquel is the only drug in the market currently to effectively treat both bipolar depression and bipolar mania,' says Prof Grunze. From the patients' point of view, this comes as a relief as they now only have one pill to take, instead of different pills for different stages of the disorder. Depending on the severity of the condition, a patient may need to be on Seroquel for at least a couple of years. Some could need lifelong medication, says Dr Wang. But the drug does not come cheap. 'Seroquel is not currently a subsidised drug here, and in the private sector, the medication could cost between $5 and $10 a day,' says Dr Wang. More troubled kids turning to IMH tag:www.giftoflistening.com,2008://1.139 2008-03-17T10:41:23Z 2008-03-17T10:44:27Z

More troubled kids turning to IMH Teo Cheng Wee 16 March 2008 Straits Times (c) 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Limited Mental institute says spike is due to greater awareness of illnesses and outreach programmes; others say stress and the Internet are to blame A RECORD number of children and adolescents aged 19 and below have been seeking help at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). However, this does not necessarily mean that there has been a spike in mental illnesses among the young, the IMH said. Instead, this could be due to an increased awareness of such illnesses and the greater number of outreach programmes. Last year, the IMH's Child Guidance Clinic, which provides psychological and psychiatric services for those aged 19 and below, saw nearly 3,000 referrals. By contrast, from 2000 to 2006, the IMH had between 2,000 and 2,500 annual referrals, mostly from schools or polyclinics. It said that most of the new cases were children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disorders or emotional disorders such as excessive worry, fear and sadness. The increase in the number of referrals did not necessarily indicate a higher incidence of mental illness among students, said Dr Ong Say How, the IMH's deputy chief of the department of child and adolescent psychiatry. He pointed to better public knowledge of the IMH's services and programmes and more school counsellors who were 'more vigilant and ready to refer students to the IMH's clinics' as other possible reasons behind the rise. The number of full-time school counsellors has risen from 270 last year to 360 now, in line with the Ministry of Education's plan to have a counsellor in every school by this year. Just as importantly, the stigma of having a child referred to counsellors or psychiatrists has diminished, said one primary school counsellor. 'In the past, people thought it was a bad reflection of their parenting skills if they needed to bring in their child for help,' he said. 'But now, if you don't bring in your child to seek help, that is seen as bad parenting.' There are also new initiatives such as the Response, Early Intervention and Assessment in Community Mental Health (Reach) scheme. Launched in August last year, it aims to train some 50 general practitioners and 350 counsellors over the next five years in the early detection of childhood conditions such as ADHD, anxiety and depression. Eight out of the 10 counsellors and psychiatrists interviewed also noticed an increase in the number of young people seeking help. They partly agreed with Dr Ong, but felt that greater awareness may not be the only reason behind the higher numbers being treated. These experts were concerned that, besides the higher stress faced by young people today, there seemed to be a greater lack of parent-child interaction. Longer hours in school and at work meant that family members were spending less time together. During interactions, parents inevitably asked about schoolwork and test scores rather than about their children's well-being, noted Ms Koh Wah Khoon, the director of family services at the Singapore Children's Society. She has noticed a trend of children equating their self-worth with how far they had met their parents' expectations. Today's children also have another thing vying for their attention: the Internet. Ms Jessica Leong, a counsellor in private practice, said that more parents had problems getting their children to bed as their kids stayed online till early in the morning. While the problem used to be limited to university or polytechnic students, she now has children as young as 11 brought to her. When parents do not spend time to impart necessary life skills, their children may not be able to cope with crises when these happen, said Dr Ong. Compounded with the fact that most children had fewer opportunities to experience major life events or adversity today, this generation may not be as resilient when coping with stress, he noted. But doctors assured parents that there was no need to be alarmed by the new figures. Said Dr Alex Su, the IMH's head of emergency services: 'They're seeking help rather than suffering in silence. That is a good sign.' chengwee@sph.com.sg Are you a troubled teen and would like to share your story? Please e-mail suntimes@sph.com.sg Not alone Who to call for help: Touchline: 1800-377-2252 Youth Challenge: 6336-3434 Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788 Befrienders of Youth: 6256-4440 SOS: 1800-221-4444 Parentline: 6289-8811 'It's okay to be not okay'. tag:www.giftoflistening.com,2008://1.138 2008-03-06T01:27:00Z 2008-03-06T01:27:56Z

ST Mind Your Body – Wednesday, March 5, 2008 Sufferers of mental illness can now turn to a new form of support - the LiveJournal (LJ) community sg-mentalhealth (http://community.livejournal.com/sg_mentalhealth). This is a locally-based cyber community whose message is: 'It's okay to be not okay'. Here, individuals coping with mental illness can find a safe haven to share their thoughts and emotions about what they are going through. Its founder is Ms Yew Run Bin, 24, who launched the site on Oct 10, 2005 - World Mental Health Day. She is the moderator of the community and in charge of maintaining and organising posts from members. Ms Yew herself is currently recovering from depression with psychotic features, borderline personality disorder and dissociative identity disorder. The community is also open to mental health professionals, caregivers, and anyone else who is interested in mental health. There are about 150 members. Aside from sharing their personal experiences, they are invited to post articles, videos, lyrics and even their own artwork. Through the community, members can also seek advice from people who have been through similar experiences and find out more about the various help channels available. Members can advise each other on treatment, which clinics to go to, or what numbers to call. While most members are not professionals, most of them have had first hand experience in dealing with mental health issues and can share information. Face-to-face support too There are also face-to-face support sessions and information on local mental health-related events online. Ms Yew, who did not want to be photographed, herself has struggled with various mental health issues since her teens. In secondary school, she started cutting her wrists. The self-mutilation worsened to the point that she once needed a tourniquet, and was suspended from school for three weeks. Her principal feared that she would be a bad influence on her peers. She was so angry and frustrated at being singled out and ostracised that her grades slipped, forcing her to repeat a year in Secondary 3. After she finished secondary school, she did well enough to land a Ministry of Education scholarship to study Consumer Science and Technology at Temasek Polytechnic (TP), but once again mental health issues disrupted her studies. She would flee from class whenever panic attacks or the urge to self-mutilate overtook her, and was eventually hospitalised. This constant disruption in her studies resulted in her breaking her scholarship bond, and leaving TP. Although her mental condition made studying difficult, she eventually managed to earn a diploma in Mass Communications at the Management Development Institute of Singapore, while working odd jobs between classes. In 2006, she started a course in English and English Literature at the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM), but was forced to leave after three semesters as she had relapses and was hospitalised four times. Ms Yew says that she had tried other avenues of support before founding this LJ community. 'I used to be in a support group at SMH (Singapore Association for Mental Health), and I really liked what I experienced there. But I wanted more spontaneity, so I decided to set this up,' she says. Members of the community can also post about their personal issues without having to worry who may see their entries. 'On LJ there's a Friends Filter, so people have the choice to let only their friends see their posts,' says Ms Yew. A Friends Filter allows a member to alter the security settings for any entry he may post so that only those with selected usernames are able to see the information. Several community gatherings, at which members meet for casual chats, have been organised through the network. On top of that, a group of about six or seven members have started visiting mental health patients who are warded in hospital, to provide support and to assure them that they are not alone. 'It feels a bit strange visiting someone you've never seen before, but after reading all the posts, you realise that there's something we all have in common,' says Ms Yew. Psychologists agree that the singapore-mental health community is a positive move. 'Having a platform to share your struggles is good. Members will feel supported knowing that they are not alone, and that they are normal except for the fact that they have more to cope with than others. Sharing coping strategies and remedies is also helpful,' says Madam Christabel Hong, a counselling psychologist at Students Care Service (Clementi Centre). 'However, the flip side is that there are those who may create or amplify their 'sufferings' and draw pleasure from the sympathy they receive. That is reinforcing negative behaviour and is unhealthy,' she adds. Managing the singapore-mental health LJ community has not been easy. 'I'm concerned that people may crash the community and and say nasty things,' says MsYew. 'On rare occasions we have had such comments, so I've had to delete them.' Life hijacked by look-good urge tag:www.giftoflistening.com,2008://1.137 2008-02-26T23:36:14Z 2008-02-26T23:37:18Z

Life hijacked by look-good urge Ray (not his real name) dropped out of Anglo Chinese Junior College last year because the 19-year-old was too ill to continue. A good-looking boy with a ready smile, Ray began battling a severe eating...

http://health.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20080226-51463.html]]> Discover Eating Disorders tag:www.giftoflistening.com,2008://1.136 2008-02-24T02:12:04Z 2008-02-24T03:01:49Z

Discover Eating Disorders 25 February - 1 March 2008 The Singapore General Hospital's Lifestyle Improvement & Fitness Enchancement or LIFE Centre is a hospital-based centre that provides integrated and holistic care for patients with lifestyle-related medical conditions,in particular patients with...

Event : Public Forum - "Help Your Teenager Beat An Eating Disorder" 9:30am Registration 10:00am Welcome and introduction. Dr Lee Huei Yen, Consultant Department of Psychiatry - SGH 10:05am "Help Your Teenager Beat An Eating Disorder" Professor James Lock, Director, Eating Disorder Programme and Clinic Standford Unversity School of Medicine 10:25am "Practical Tips and Resource" Ms Esther Chan, Medical Social Worker - SGH 11:05am Q&A 11:35am End Time : 1:00pm Venue : LIFE Centre, Bowyer Block A, Level 1, SGH Contact : 17mag@sph.com.sg Event : Seventeen Perfect Fit workshop Anyone can look good! Get advice from sylists from Seventeen Singapore ]]> Bil will better protect mentally ill : MOH tag:www.giftoflistening.com,2008://1.135 2008-02-21T06:51:38Z 2008-02-21T06:55:02Z

BILL WILL BETTER PROTECT MENTALLY-ILL: MOH Thursday February 21, 2008 Tan Hui Lenghuileng@mediacorp.com.sg PATIENTS who are detained or forced to be admitted to psychiatric institutions will get better protection under the proposed Mental Health(Care and Treatment) Bill by the Ministry of Health (MOH). Under the existing law, there is no provision for an existing inpatient -admitted voluntarily - to be detained for further treatment if he is assessed to be a danger to himself or others. This will change if the new Bill is passed, allowing a doctor to give the necessary order. In general, a person can be admitted or detained for treatment if he is suffering from a mental disorder that warrants such an action, and if it is in the interests of the person or to protect others. The proposed changes would also allow for detained patients to be reviewed sooner. Currently, a patient may not be detained for more than a month,after which an order for further detention of up to 12 months must be issued by two doctors, one of whom must be a psychiatrist. Beyond this, a Magistrate's order is required to further detain the patient. The new Bill proposes that the maximum period of further detention be reduced to six months. "This protects patient interests, by subjecting the necessity of continued detention to the early review of the Magistrate,"said the MOH. The Bill, which would replace the Mental Disorders and Treatment Act, will also see increased penalties for the abuse of mentally-disordered patients. For example, those charged for the cruel treatment or wilful neglect of such a patient would face a maximum fine of $5,000 and/or four years'jail - up from a maximum fine of $500 and/or two years' jail. The penalty for having sex with a patient would draw a maximum fine of $5,000 and/or jail of 10 years, up from just $1,000 and two years currently. The MOH is inviting public feedback on the Mental Health (Care andTreatment) Bill. Log on to www.moh.gov.sg. Public Forum : Emerging Trends in Psychiatry and Successful Recovery tag:www.giftoflistening.com,2008://1.134 2008-02-20T06:48:37Z 2008-02-21T06:50:31Z

Taken from http://www.silverribbonsingapore.com Download the flyer at the below url to submit the registration http://www.silverribbonsingapore.com/images/events/20080426_emergingtrends.pdf 26 Apr 2008 2pm - 4pm Punggol Room Basement 1 HDB Hub Convention Centre Registration is required and refreshment will be provided....

Download the flyer at the below url to submit the registration http://www.silverribbonsingapore.com/images/events/20080426_emergingtrends.pdf 26 Apr 2008 2pm - 4pm Punggol Room Basement 1 HDB Hub Convention Centre Registration is required and refreshment will be provided. ]]> Forum on Helping Youth With An "At Risk Mental State" tag:www.giftoflistening.com,2008://1.133 2008-02-20T06:45:08Z 2008-02-21T06:48:28Z

Taken from http://www.silverribbonsingapore.com Download the flyer in the below url http://www.silverribbonsingapore.com/images/events/20080222_Public_Forum.pdf 22 Feb 2008 9am - 12.30pm Registration Fee is $10 per person. Pre-registration is required due to limited seating. Pls refer to the attached flyer....

Download the flyer in the below url http://www.silverribbonsingapore.com/images/events/20080222_Public_Forum.pdf 22 Feb 2008 9am - 12.30pm Registration Fee is $10 per person. Pre-registration is required due to limited seating. Pls refer to the attached flyer. ]]> Getting youths savvy about mental health tag:www.giftoflistening.com,2008://1.132 2008-01-31T12:40:43Z 2008-01-31T12:41:24Z

Getting youths savvy about mental health Mind Your Body 30 January 2008 Straits Times English (c) 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Limited How do you broach the delicate subject of mental health with pre-teens and teens? It's something that carefree youths hardly think about, although some of their peers could well be the victims of mental disorders themselves. The stress associated with school and the pressure to succeed might push some to the brink. So, being aware of mental health issues and how to get help is important. It was with this in mind that a group of final-year Nanyang Technological University (NTU) students, in collaboration with Silver Ribbon and the Institute of Mental Health, launched ViBes '08 - Voices through the Arts last October. The campaign, which aims to promote awareness of mental health help channels as well as reduce the stigma associated with mental health problems, draws to a close on Saturday. The campaign isarts-centric, involving a song-writing competition and a play, Paperface, which was presented in seven schools here. The final event will be held at the Woodlands Civic Centre Open Plaza on Saturday. The top six finalists from the ViBes '08 Song-writing Competition will compete for the championship title and there will be a public performance of Paperface. The team behind ViBes '08 has also produced the ViBes '08 Youth Guide to Mental Health and has set up exhibition panels in schools. 'We think that mental health is a very neglected area as compared with other causes such as Aids or the environment,' said Miss Cai Peijuan, 23, a team member from NTU. 'This is something that people don't really know about.' Miss Porsche Poh, the executive director of Silver Ribbon, said: 'The stigma surrounding mental health is still extremely great and it's very difficult for those who have recovered to find jobs.' Miss Cai said that putting together such an extensive campaign was not an easy task. 'Silver Ribbon provided us with a lot of information and we also spoke to some of our friends who had suffered from mental health problems,' said Miss Cai, who said that engaging the target audience was the more difficult aspect. 'Youths think that mental health doesn't concern them... and even the youths who joined our song writing competition had difficulty relating to mental health issues,' she said. But their hard work has paid off. About 5,000 students have seen the play and most seem to be able to relate to its message about proper stress management. 'I hope that ViBes '08 will inspire more students to work on mental health projects and that people will realise the importance of early treatment,' said Miss Poh. - LISABEL TING Light therapy may help women with bipolar disorder tag:www.giftoflistening.com,2008://1.131 2008-01-23T09:14:15Z 2008-01-23T09:15:08Z

Light therapy may help women with bipolar disorder Tue Jan 22, 2:28 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Bright light therapy can relieve depression in some women with bipolar disorder, a study shows. Bright light treatment started out as a way to relieve winter depression, but it has since been shown to be effective for seasonal and non-seasonal major depression. It could also benefit people with bipolar disorder, in which moods swing from depression to mania, note the authors of the report in the medical journal Bipolar Disorders. To see what "dose" of bright light might be best, Dr. Dorothy Sit, of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, and colleagues conducted a small study with nine women in the depression phase of bipolar disorder who were unresponsive to conventional treatments. The women were given light boxes and used them for 15, 30, and 45 minutes daily, each for 2-week periods. Four patients used them in the morning and five at midday. Of the four subjects treated with morning light, three developed mixed states; that is, "symptoms of depression and mania that occur at the same time -- racing thoughts, irritability, sleeplessness, anxiety and low mood," Sit explained in a press release. The patients in the midday group had a more stable response, so the researchers changed the time of light exposure to midday for all the participants. Overall, six of the nine patients had some degree of benefit from bright light therapy, once the timing and duration of treatment had been adjusted to individual responses. Sit's team concludes that women with bipolar disease "are highly sensitive to morning bright light treatment." They recommend that patients who do not respond to conventional treatment should begin "with a brief duration (15 minutes) of midday light." SOURCE: Bipolar Disorders, December 2007.