No health without mental health – a new series by The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - Have you ever received news so bad that it felt like a giant hand was crushing your heart?

Lain awake all night as thoughts churned and replayed in an endless loop?

Or had nightmares about not meeting a deadline at work or failing your exams?

This is what it means to be human.

Stress in itself is not an illness but is often the conduit to mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, if not dealt with.

You are not alone.

In 2019, 970 million – or about one in eight people globally – were living with a mental disorder, with depression and anxiety the most common, says the World Health Organisation.

These can run the gamut from anxiety and stress, which may not always need medication, to debilitating conditions such as schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive and bipolar disorders.

One in every two people worldwide will develop a mental health disorder in their lifetime, according to a large-scale study led by Harvard Medical School and the University of Queensland published in 2023.

In Singapore,

young people are particularly hard hit

, with a significant proportion of youth experiencing severe or very severe symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress, according to the

first nationwide survey on youth mental health

by the Institute of Mental Health released in September. One in three did not seek help.

In an ever-changing world, different circumstances shake our mental health.

The Covid-19 pandemic, for one thing, brought more mental health issues to the fore, with higher levels of stress, loneliness, anxiety and depression reported, and pre-existing problems exacerbated.

And in recent years, experts have warned about the harmful effects of excessive social media use and online addiction.

The silver lining is, more people are shrugging off the shroud of mental health stigma, and coming out of the shadows for help.

It is no longer something to keep behind closed doors. Nor will it be confined to hospitals and specialised treatment centres.

In Singapore, the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy is actively improving the mental health ecosystem, so people who need it can seek help without judgment, and are supported in their recovery.

It focuses on expanding the capacity of mental health services, enhancing capabilities of service providers for early identification and intervention, promoting mental health and well-being, and improving it in the workplace.

For a country, improving mental health care has an outsized impact in terms of economic and productivity gains.

For individuals, mental health is key to our well-being, profoundly influencing how we think, act, and relate to others.

Good mental health is linked to better physical health, and gives us the resilience to face the challenges of life. 

Indeed, there is no health without mental health.

Within this rapidly changing space, The Straits Times has embarked on a new series to highlight mental health and show why it matters. 

We aim to keep people abreast of the latest in research and medical developments, debunk misconceptions, tell the stories of those who have challenges and the people around them, and start conversations on how to support those in need. 

We will show you what help is available, and how to get it. 

This will be done through a multimedia series of articles, photographs, videos, infographics, podcasts and a dedicated microsite.

Starting today, the first part of our series takes an in-depth look at the nation’s evolving mental health landscape and how to navigate it.

There are first-hand accounts of people who have traversed the system, including that of ST correspondent Lee Li Ying, and a glimpse into what the future mental health landscape may look like in a piece from senior correspondent Joyce Teo, as well as a commentary from veteran psychiatrist Chong Siow Ann in our expert column Views From The Couch. 

In the coming months, we will shine the spotlight on conditions and issues such as the profound impact the “internet in your pocket” is having on young people; how to get back on your feet and back to work after recovering from a mental health setback; and living with schizophrenia – one of the most chronic and disabling mental illnesses – as well as the issues older people grapple with as the nation silvers. 

No feeling is final.

If you are experiencing mental health issues, you do not have to face them alone. 

As we go on this journey together, tell us your stories of resilience, of fighting back, and of seeking help and giving it. 

There is always hope, and a helping hand, if you need one.