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Mental Health Programme

The Mental Health Programme (MHP) was introduced by the Ministry of Health in 1993 as a part of its efforts to improve the lifestyle of Singaporeans. The programme aims to increase awareness of common mental illnesses such as depression, that one might commonly ignore or mistake for stress. The programme also helps in removing the traditional prejudices associated with seeking help from psychologists or psychiatrists.

History
The origins of the Mental Health Programme can be traced back to the National Mental Health Week, launched for the first time on 15 March 1987. Organised by medical professionals, the Singapore Psychiatric Association (SPA) and the Health Ministry, it aimed to increase awareness of stress-induced ailments and promote mental well-being in the general public through workshops, forums, seminars and exhibitions. The need for a survey to access the general mental health of Singaporeans was also felt. The first such survey was organised in April 1987 by the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH), several government ministries and statutory boards. Commercial organisations contributed money to help conduct the survey. Major health disorders seen amongst Singaporeans were depression, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. Those afflicted with mental illnesses were afraid to seek help due to the traditional and societal stigma associated with such illnesses. They were also afraid of under-recognition for their efforts and of inadequate treatment by primary care physicians. Prior to the launch of the National Mental Health Week, the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH), which is supported by the National Council of Social Service and the Community Chest, had been instrumental in increasing awareness and providing support to affected people through its Community Mental Health Education Programme since the 1970s.

In 1993 the nation's mental health management scenario got a further boost with the opening of a new S$170 million psychiatric hospital off Jalan Woodbridge. Established in 1928 and known simply as Mental Hospital at that time, the psychiatric hospital which came to be known as Woodbridge Hospital later was renamed and re-established as the Institute of Mental Health in 1993 with the construction of its new premises. The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) has been conducting special programmes since its inception such as stress management seminars and workshops. Participants are educated and taught the necessary skills and techniques to ameliorate stress arising from their work. The Institute also organises a "Corporate Mental Health Programme" for organisations. This programme provides a mental health profile for individual employees and the organisation as a whole and offers suitable programmes to improve the mental well-being of the organisation and its staff. The programme's mission is to promote awareness of mental health illnesses amongst the office-goers so that they can prevent it from happening to themselves.

The Mental Health Programme was launched on 7 February 1993 by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Aline Wong. It was initially started as a three-year comprehensive mental health programme by the government and was to be implemented through the Institute of Health. It later became a national programme and began functioning hand-in-hand with other mental education programmes by the government such as the National Healthy Lifestyle Programme. The National Healthy Lifestyle Programme was launched in 1992 and the Mental Health Programme received a boost with its release as it became a part of the government's multi-pronged approach to improving the lifestyle of Singaporeans through regular exercise, healthy eating, no smoking and managing stress. The primary aims of the National Mental Health Programme is to increase mental health awareness, provide means for early detection and treatment and promote good mental health in the population. Primary health care doctors are trained to recognise and manage mental disorders.

Description
The MHP continues to organise forums, workshops and talks to encourage people to manage their emotions. It also organises the Mental Health Awareness Week with different themes and targeted at different groups, such as students or the elderly, each year. It works by helping participants seek help through counselling, day-care facilities, group homes and caregivers support group. In 1994, the World Mental Health Day, was celebrated in Singapore with the Defeat Depression Week held from 23 to 30 October 1994. It addressed minor psychiatric ailments such as anxiety, sleep and eating disorders.

In 2001, the MPH launched the Mind your Mind Programme, a 10-year prevention programme that seeks to promote mental wellness by raising awareness of the importance of early detection and providing treatment for major mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. Mass media, talks and forums are used to destigmatise mental illnesses through raising public awareness. The Mind your Mind Programme is jointly implemented by the Health Promotion Board and the Institute of Mental Health. The joint venture also ropes in different partners and organisations from time to time for various activities, such as the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Community Development & Sports, Voluntary Welfare Organisations and professional health groups.

In 2003 the main focus of the Mental Health Programme was on the family, friends and caregivers of those afflicted with mental disorders. They were taught how to detect the early signs of depression in their loved ones and also where one could find help and treatment for them.



Author
Naidu Ratnala Thulaja



References 
Singapore Association for Mental Health. (1982). A positive approach to mental health: A community mental health education programme (pp. 23-24). Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RCLOS 362.20425 POS)

Singapore Association for Mental Health. (1999). SAMH survey of the general health of the Singapore population: Report (pp. 8-28). Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RSING 614.42095957 SAM)

Chin, S. F. (1994, October 10). Mental Health Day - Celebrities to say take it easy. The Straits Times, Life!, p. 6.

Pereira , B. (1993, February 08). Three year mental health plan unveiled. The Straits Times, p. 1.

Stress-induced ills on the rise. (1987, March 14). The Straits Times. 

Survey to size up nation's mental health. (1987, April 15). The Straits Times. 

Health Promotion Board. (2001-2002). Workplace Health Promotion Programme. Retrieved January 6, 2004, from www.hpb.gov.sg/hpb/pro/pro08.asp

Ministry of Health. (2001-2003). About us. Retrieved January 6, 2004, from app.moh.gov.sg/edc/pid_397.asp


Further Readings
Medical Symposium on Diseases Due to Harmful Lifestyles (Hypertension, Lung Cancer, Diabetes Metlitus, Ischaemic Heart Disease, Mental Illness): Post-symposium publication. (1979). Singapore: The Ministry.
(Call no.: RCLOS 614.5095957 MED) 

Ministry of Health. (1987). Coping with stress. Singapore: Author.
(Call no.: RSING 158.1 COP)

Ng, B. Y. (2001). Till the break of day: A history of mental health services in Singapore, 1841-1993. Singapore: Singapore University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 362.2095957 NG)

Singapore Association for Mental Health. (1988). A practical approach to mental illness: Its causes and treatment. Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: R 616.89 PRA)

A motivating factor, say some; can't do without it, say others. (1993, February 15). The Straits Times, p. 18.

Campaign on mental health to be launched next year. (1991, March 22). The Straits Times, p. 29.

Kan, G. (1995, September 21). Real teens chosen for mental health drive. The Straits Times, p. 22.

Pressured bosses can drive you crazy; Coping with stress theme of Mental Health Week. (1987, March 11). The Straits Times. 

CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls' School. (n.d.). Helping Hands - government efforts. Retrieved January 6, 2004, from cf2003.sngs.sch.edu.sg/text/h_govtefforts.html 

The information in this article is valid as at 2004 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Events>>National Campaigns
Mental health promotion--Singapore
Health promotion--Singapore
Health and medicine>>Diseases>>Nervous system diseases and mental disorders>>Mental disorders

Librarian Recommendations
>> National Healthy Lifestyle Programme


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