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The Health Promotion Board has launched a public campaign to increase the awareness of Singaporeans of the signs of depression in the elderly.
The exhibition – “Inside a depressed mind” is currently held at Tan Tock Seng Hospital till December 18 before it is moved to another venue.
According to figures published in the state media, one out of twenty or five per cent of Singapore elderly are depressed.
Clinical depression is usually diagnosed based on symptoms such as persistent low mood for more than two weeks, loss of appetite, insomnia, low libido and a general lack of interest in life.
Depression sometimes goes unnoticed and some elderly people suffer in silence, said Dr Daniel Kwek, the head and senior consultant at the department of psychological medicine in TTSH.
Among those who do recover, up to half will have a relapse within two years, he added.
It may be more difficult to detect depression in the elderly as they often present with vague symptoms which are perceived wrongly as a normal part of aging like fatigue, poor appetite and disturbed sleep.
Many also have concomitant medical conditions which mask or mimic the symptoms of depression.
Prolonged depression is also a key contributory cause of suicide which is increasing among the elderly population and is often exacerbated by financial concerns and a sense of loneliness.
Shin Min Daily reported a case of a 74 year old breast cancer patient who plunged to her death from a flat because of persistent worry and fear that she will become a burden to her family.
Singapore’s suicide rate is 9.15 per 100,000 residents in 2007. Among those aged 65 years and above, suicide rates increased from 69 in 2006 to 87 in 2007
With an aging population, the suicide rate among elderly looks set to increase.
Singapore has few social welfare benefits for its elderly citizens who have to depend entirely on their savings or children to spend their twilight years.
Though the government insists that public healthcare is affordable in Singapore, ordinary Singaporeans continue to be plagued by lingering concerns that they will be unable to afford to pay the hefty medical expenses should they be struck by a serious illness.
Few elderly qualify for the Public Assistance (PA) scheme offered by the Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports. One must be certified completely unfit to work by a doctor and be completely destitute without any living kin to be eligible to apply.
Even then, the monthly living allowance of $330 provided under the PA scheme is hardly sufficient to maintain a decent quality of life in high-cost Singapore.
When asked by PAP MP Dr Lily Neo a few years ago to increase the allowance which is then only $290 a month, Minister for Community, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan retorted:
“How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?”
The exhibition – “Inside a depressed mind” is currently held at Tan Tock Seng Hospital till December 18 before it is moved to another venue.
According to figures published in the state media, one out of twenty or five per cent of Singapore elderly are depressed.
Clinical depression is usually diagnosed based on symptoms such as persistent low mood for more than two weeks, loss of appetite, insomnia, low libido and a general lack of interest in life.
Depression sometimes goes unnoticed and some elderly people suffer in silence, said Dr Daniel Kwek, the head and senior consultant at the department of psychological medicine in TTSH.
Among those who do recover, up to half will have a relapse within two years, he added.
It may be more difficult to detect depression in the elderly as they often present with vague symptoms which are perceived wrongly as a normal part of aging like fatigue, poor appetite and disturbed sleep.
Many also have concomitant medical conditions which mask or mimic the symptoms of depression.
Prolonged depression is also a key contributory cause of suicide which is increasing among the elderly population and is often exacerbated by financial concerns and a sense of loneliness.
Shin Min Daily reported a case of a 74 year old breast cancer patient who plunged to her death from a flat because of persistent worry and fear that she will become a burden to her family.
Singapore’s suicide rate is 9.15 per 100,000 residents in 2007. Among those aged 65 years and above, suicide rates increased from 69 in 2006 to 87 in 2007
With an aging population, the suicide rate among elderly looks set to increase.
Singapore has few social welfare benefits for its elderly citizens who have to depend entirely on their savings or children to spend their twilight years.
Though the government insists that public healthcare is affordable in Singapore, ordinary Singaporeans continue to be plagued by lingering concerns that they will be unable to afford to pay the hefty medical expenses should they be struck by a serious illness.
Few elderly qualify for the Public Assistance (PA) scheme offered by the Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports. One must be certified completely unfit to work by a doctor and be completely destitute without any living kin to be eligible to apply.
Even then, the monthly living allowance of $330 provided under the PA scheme is hardly sufficient to maintain a decent quality of life in high-cost Singapore.
When asked by PAP MP Dr Lily Neo a few years ago to increase the allowance which is then only $290 a month, Minister for Community, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan retorted:
“How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?”
