Schools have measures to detect psychosis among students: Lui
By Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 22 May 2007 1928 hrs

SINGAPORE: The recent massacre at the University of Virginia in the US prompted MPs to ask the Education Ministry about the measures in place to detect psychosis among students.

Minister of State for Education Lui Tuck Yew said there are three tiers of help.

The teachers will first identify problem behaviour.

The students are then referred to school counsellors.

Severe cases are referred to the Institute of Mental Health for expert help.

RADM (NS) Lui said: "In 2006, only 31 out of a total of 7,155 cases of schizophrenia - which is the most common form of psychosis - were diagnosed for patients aged under 18 years by the Child Guidance Clinic of the Institute of Mental Health.

"With regard to what happened in the University of Virginia, our institutions of higher learning actually have a system in place where there are people who are on the lookout for such developments."

He added that schools also have programmes to reintegrate students who have been treated for mental problems.

MP Halimah Yacob asked if schools have programmes to not only train counsellors and teachers but also raise awareness among students about the challenges and problems faced by psychotic students.

RADM (NS) Lui replied: "I think the areas that we are actually paying greater attention to right now would be dyslexia, autism, as well as, for example, other behavioural problems which I think are more common." - CNA/ir

For the article's source click below
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/277702/1/.html

Minorities prefer depression counseling to drugs

Fri May 18, 3:35 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - When it comes to depression therapy, minorities are more likely than whites to prefer counseling to medication, according to a large U.S. survey

In an Internet survey of about 75,000 Americans, researchers found that African Americans, Hispanics and Asian Americans were two to three times more likely than whites to say they'd rather be treated with talk therapy than with drugs for depression.

Minorities were also less likely to believe that depression stems from biological changes in the brain and were more likely to think antidepressants are addictive, according to findings published in the journal General Hospital Psychiatry.

"This study documents that, overall, ethnic minorities hold attitudes toward depression and depression treatment that are distinct from those of white participants," lead study author Dr. Jane Givens, of Boston University Medical Center, said in a statement.

For the full article, refer to
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070518/hl_nm/minorities_depression_dc;_ylt=AhmQ_HnJahX8BUME13Ak0GXVJRIF

It is a puzzlement to me that in Singapore, a number of those whom I know sees their psychologists only once or twice a month or so on average. A much bigger gap of time frame than what I feel and think is suitable for treatment or as it is in overseas.

"The further/longer the time duration from the previous therapy session, the less effective it's going to be."

In my view, the further the duration, the more likely new issues in life will occur that the person will bring up during the session that both the individual and the therapist have to address. And more likely to make the person feel they have to (spend more time) recap a lot more on the previous session and what happened in between the sessions. Perhaps one can call it losing the momentum if you will with the huge time frame gap in between the sessions.

Of course, one might then say, it isn't cheap to keep seeing them you know.