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Apart from climbing suicide rates, there has also been a rise in the number of persons grappling with mental health issues here in Singapore.
In the report in the Sunday Times “Breaking the silence on suicide” (Sunday, February 24, 2019), Ms Elaine Lek spoke about how she tragically lost her young son to suicide in October last year. She asked why sex education can be taught in schools, yet the topic of mental illness was hardly being broached.
Research has revealed that 90 percent of people afflicted with mental disorders begin to develop symptoms during their teenage years.
In addition, 13 percent of children under the age of 18 suffer from several mental conditions such as anxiety attacks, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Disruptive Behavior Disorders (DBD).
Society has to learn to accept that mental illness will be part of an increasing complex urban lifestyle. But the good news is that like any other ailment, most mental illnesses can be controlled and managed. With love, understanding and early medical intervention, it is possible for many mentally ill persons to lead perfectly normal lives.
Bottom line: We need to manage mental illness, before it manages us.
I therefore strongly concur with Ms Lek's suggestion: there is indeed a dire and urgent need to incorporate mental health education into the mainstream school curriculum as well.
More at https://www.domainofexperts.com/2019/03/its-timely-to-introduce-mental-health.html
In the report in the Sunday Times “Breaking the silence on suicide” (Sunday, February 24, 2019), Ms Elaine Lek spoke about how she tragically lost her young son to suicide in October last year. She asked why sex education can be taught in schools, yet the topic of mental illness was hardly being broached.
Research has revealed that 90 percent of people afflicted with mental disorders begin to develop symptoms during their teenage years.
In addition, 13 percent of children under the age of 18 suffer from several mental conditions such as anxiety attacks, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Disruptive Behavior Disorders (DBD).
Society has to learn to accept that mental illness will be part of an increasing complex urban lifestyle. But the good news is that like any other ailment, most mental illnesses can be controlled and managed. With love, understanding and early medical intervention, it is possible for many mentally ill persons to lead perfectly normal lives.
Bottom line: We need to manage mental illness, before it manages us.
I therefore strongly concur with Ms Lek's suggestion: there is indeed a dire and urgent need to incorporate mental health education into the mainstream school curriculum as well.
More at https://www.domainofexperts.com/2019/03/its-timely-to-introduce-mental-health.html
