Mental Health Support Groups in Singapore
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has a clear statement that states, “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” There is still a lot of stigma and barriers surrounding mental health in Singapore.
According to a Singapore Mental Health Study conducted in 2016, while one in seven in Singapore has experienced a mental disorder in their lifetime, more than three-quarters did not seek any professional help. There has been a survey that claims more than 5 in 10 respondents indicated that they are unwilling to live with, nearby or work with someone who has a mental health condition.
Even though people might not be comfortable to engage in help-seeking behaviours and to overcome this fear, there are many mental health support groups for people to find support and to understand their mental health.
What really is mental health? Mental health refers to the behavioral and emotional well-being of an individual. It is about how one thinks, feels and behaves from day to day. It affects daily living, relationships and even physical health. Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes their own abilities.
Stress, anxiety and depression can affect mental health and affect someone’s daily life. Poor mental health can lead to unhealthy lifestyles and harmful behaviors.
There are many reasons why it is hard for people to seek help regarding mental health. One of the major reasons would have to be the stigma surrounding mental health problems in Singapore. Many have said that they would rather not associate themselves with people who are diagnosed with mental health conditions and would stay away from them, family or not. Another reason would be the awareness of resources in the community. Even though mental health care services have been expanding over the years, the price and availability of services still varies. Not many people have the resources to seek professional help. That is why there are mental health support groups.
Mental health support groups are usually formed to bring people who are or have gone through similar experiences. It provides them with an opportunity to share personal experiences and feelings, how they cope and how they decide to seek help. Support groups are mostly a nonprofit organisation aimed to help people with mental health problems. Many people might confuse support groups with group therapy sessions, but it is different. Group therapy is a type of mental health treatment that brings together several people with similar conditions under the guidance of a licensed provider.
Some mental health support group in Singapore:
- Silver Ribbon (Singapore)
- PSALT care — supporting & sustaining mental health recovery
- Over The Rainbow
- Sam Health — Singapore association for Mental Health
- Campus PSY (Peer Support for Youths)
- Resilience Collective
- Help123 — support from trained counsellors
PSALT care is a charity organisation set up to support people who have been diagnosed with mental health conditions or face addiction in their road to recovery. They organise peer-led support group meetings to discuss mental health and encourage each other to recover. This charity organisation is related to the US-based Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) and runs as its recognised Singapore branch. Their vision is “to be effective in providing and advocating a wide selection of holistic education and support resources for emotional, mental health and addiction issues’. When in need of any help or enquiries, their contact number is 6205 5538.
Another organisation in Singapore would be SAMH. Despite the heightened phase alert in Singapore, they are continuing to provide their services to those in need. At SAMH they try to improve the lives of people with mental problems and are going through treatment. The organisation is open to helping people of any age to get the help that they need. One of SAMH’s vision is to improve mental resilience in the community. When in need of any help, you can contact them on their toll-free hotline 1800–283–7019. If you feel that a call is not enough, you can head down to one of their many addresses for outreach, rehabilitation and more.
Resilience Collective is a peer-powered mental health platform. People with mental health conditions can open up on their experiences and knowledge. This organisation empowers its members to be on the road to mental health recovery and advocate on mental health and the anti-stigma in Singapore. Their vision is to have “an inclusive community where persons in recovery from mental health or trauma experiences are empowered to build resilience”. If you have any enquiries you can either head down to their address or call them at 6932 2786.
When should one start to seek help? It is normal to feel sad and depressed every now and then, but if it continues to persist for more than 2 weeks and it affects your daily lifestyle, it is good to consult a mental health professional. If a person is seriously thinking of commiting suicide, it is crucial to make an appointment with a mental health doctor as soon as possible. If you are the peer’s close family member or friends, do make an appointment on his/her behalf. Safe to say, when one starts to feel depressed or sad for a long period of time and/or is having suicidal thoughts, it is best to seek professional help from medically-trained mental health doctors.
Having good mental health helps us prevent mental health problems that are associated with chronic illnesses. Properly managing stress well can have a positive impact on any heart diseases. Therefore, it is important if you or someone you know is facing any mental health problems to seek help. If it is someone you know, be positive and encourage them through their journey of recovery. If they do not have enough resources to seek help from a professional, they can look for mental health support groups that will help them best. It is our duty as the newer generation to reduce the stigma people have against mental health conditions.