“I’m too old to think too much. According to the Transitions in Health, Employment, Social Engagement, and Intergenerational Transfers in Singapore study, 37 percent of elderly respondents reported three or more chronic health conditions in 2017, up from 19.8 percent in a 2009 study.. “We believe that everyone has strengths, and so does Stanley,” she said. After my aunty passed away, she felt lonelier.”, With the rest of the family having their own commitments, “they didn’t have much time for her”, admitted Mdm Loh. Her daughter thinks this became the main issue. and above) in Singapore, 11 while a more recent study reported the estimated prevalence of depressive symptoms among the community-dwelling elderly in Singapore to be 11.4%. Mdm Lee was diagnosed with dementia in 2016, before her depressive episode. Results: The lifetime prevalence of at least one mood, anxiety or alcohol use disorder was 13.9% in the adult population. 10 Facts About Mental Health and Aging 10 Facts About Mental Health and Aging. Mediacorp Pte Ltd. All rights reserved. “The other way round is also true,” he added. But she got more confused, and even wanted to chase Ms Loh out of her own home. It’s my duty as a daughter, and also a way to repay her kindness.”, And she remembers the promise the family made to their father before he died: That they would “always take good care of mother”. OK. filter by date . In absolute terms, this is an expected increase from 900 million to 2 billion people over the age of 60. “It somewhat keeps her memory alive,” he said. trailer
Many of the adverse health effects of loneliness affect the elderly’s mental health but also puts a high burden on the heart. Now she never even asks me to turn on the TV for her,” sighed her daughter. 0000003475 00000 n
Dementia in Singapore is a growing concern. “They’d go to find good food and go shopping together. The consequences of depression are felt not only by the elderly but also their loved ones – for example 61-year-old Mdm Loh, who quit her job as a kitchen assistant in 2016 to be her mother’s main carer. Mr Seah, who has no children, is now one of them. Download SingStat Mobile App for fast, free and easy access to Singapore official statistics and key ASEAN statistics! 0000000016 00000 n
Mr Seah himself was referred to community counsellors when Dover Park Hospice predicted that there might be “some difficult bereavement issues”, said Ms Gui. Download from the SingStat Table Builder over … %%EOF
Knowing that grief manifests itself differently over time, Ms Gui said hopefully: “When he can cope with his grief and is feeling better, I suppose he won’t come back to this place so often.”, Mdm Lee, too, has made progress in the course of treatment. So when the memory function isn’t that good or tends to remember sad things, (the elderly) tend to be sadder.”. One in five elderly persons in Singapore aged 75 and above show signs of depression, according to the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study in 2012 by the National University of Singapore’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. And their numbers are rising: The Department of Statistics estimates that 83,000 elderly persons will be living alone by 2030, compared with the 47,000 seniors aged 65 and above in 2016. An irritable Mdm Lee would especially be worked up about noise, such as a child crying or anybody talking loudly. “She was so worried about me then. “Last time, she liked to listen to music – her operas. The 12-month prevalence of any DSM-IV mental disorders was 6.5%. Even when his wife was alive, he saw himself as “somewhat like a lone ranger”. <]>>
demons and stigma working adults must battle. The study found that the prevalence of 10/66 dementia was 10% in the older adult population while the prevalence of DSM-IV dementia was 4.6%. This translates to almost 82,000 people in 2018 and the number is expected to exceed 100,000 in a few years’ time. All these help them to develop a lifestyle that’s against depression and memory loss. As the widower put it – and others could see – the couple were “very close”. “If the caregiver can’t tolerate the stress of going through difficulty, most likely the patient will end up in an old folks’ home,” he said. The Straits Times reports on the impact on various groups. I was heartbroken. Some 129 people aged 60 and older committed suicide, despite the total number of … Said Dr Tsoi: We have sufficient data to show that depression also could lead to heart disease and other physical problems, even stroke. “I didn’t even know how to comfort her,” she said. There can be a physical impact too. But I did the cooking because her legs were weak,” said Mr Seah, who spent the final two months with her in the hospice. 0000005242 00000 n
Dover Park Hospice senior medical social worker Sally Gui, who worked with the couple, recalled that Mr Seah looked “quite down most of the time because of the wife’s condition”. As the tantrums began, at first the family put this down to Mdm Lee Sui Yee’s old age – but then, nothing seemed acceptable to her. The proportion of older adults (aged 60 years and over) in the population, currently about 8%, is projected to increase to 19% by 2030. Another factor is physical health, whereby ill elderly parents take their lives to avoid being a “burden” to their children. “All the brain functions are somewhat linked … Emotion will affect memory; memory itself will affect emotion. A natural effect of aging is an increased likelihood of health … Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) has been uplifting lives and promoting mental wellness for all since 1968. Download SingStat Mobile App for fast, free and easy access to Singapore official statistics and key ASEAN statistics! Mr Seah’s counsellor Berlinda Tan from Sage Counselling Centre also visits him in his three-room flat, once every three weeks. 0000014432 00000 n
Mdm Lee herself may not speak much, but what she does say is indicative of her improvement. It was so tiring for me.”. 0000000856 00000 n
This series of studies also found that seniors living alone were twice as likely as their peers to develop depressive symptoms. But the first step is always the hardest. She would rather lie around at home, quietly and listlessly, than move about to improve her mood and blood circulation. Educational Resources. In using this report and others to analyse Singapore's mental illness rates, its mental healthcare landscape and how it compares to its peer nations, we were able to gain a better understanding of how well Singapore is dealing with this hidden crisis. It hurts a lot. The wealth of information would provide knowledge and insights into common mental disorders in Singapore, the emerging trends and public health concerns, and the impact of measures which have been taken since the last Singapore Mental Health Study in … “When we affirm the strengths he has, it’ll change the way he perceives himself.”. Among the elderly with dementia, it is “very common” for depressive features to be present, said Dr Chris Tsoi, a consultant at the National University Hospital’s Department of Psychological Medicine. 0000003917 00000 n
“I’d talk to her, but she’d say that I never listen to her,” said her daughter. All Publications. 0000001531 00000 n
I went out for two hours. His sister is mentally unstable and also lives alone. In Singapore, depression strikes about six per cent of the elderly population aged 65 and above. Singapore is one of the most rapidly aging countries in Asia. While he has been getting the help he needs, that may not be so for the majority of depressed seniors. Covid-19 and its associated circuit breaker measures have exacted a toll on the mental health of people in Singapore. “Sometimes it was very hard to fall asleep. 12 The Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) study was initiated in 2011 to provide an updated mental health “I just take it easy.”. The rising cost of elderly care may strain Singapore's strong financial footing if the rising cost of caring for the elderly is not managed. 0000007458 00000 n
One in five elderly persons in Singapore aged 75 and above show signs of depression, according to the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study in 2012 by the National University of Singapore’s … “I couldn’t concentrate on anything,” he shared. She passed away. The top seven chronic health conditions were:. That makes me worried. endstream
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The most common mental illnesses in Singapore are Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Alcohol Abuse and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), with a rate of 1 in 16 people affected by MDD, 1 in 28 … 0000004634 00000 n
As Dr Tsoi noted, her role is vital to her mother getting back to her usual self. Watch this episode of Facing Depression here. Services & Programmes for Elderly; Statistics & Resources; Services & Programmes for Elderly. His wife of 30 years died last July. The first sign of her failing health was jaundice. In the case of 70-year-old Stanley Seah, depression was diagnosed after he discovered that he had multiple medical conditions, namely high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. The release of the latest Singapore Mental Health Study gave us rare insight into Singapore's state of mental health. ]�f*Լ.�̯ͥ�i����D��'oվJD��qIۙo���� Ȥ��6L� �"
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And depression among the elderly has its own set of challenges, as seen in the documentary Facing Depression. “When she was sick, I looked after her. As Singapore grapples with an aging population and social stigma associated with reaching out for help for mental health issues, the national government is putting more resources towards improving health-related data and support systems. SINGAPORE - The number of elderly people taking their own lives reached a record high last year. “Everything the maid did … wasn’t up to her standard,” Mdm Loh explained, citing her mother’s expectations for cooking in particular. H��T�N�P��+f�H���}{I Q!�Rl�����bd'4�|I��G�. It is anticipated that the number of older adults with mental and behavioral health problems will almost quadruple, from 4 million in 1970 to 15 million in 2030. But she’d also scold me for not staying and talking to her.”. She doesn’t throw her tantrums or scold people anyhow.”. When she could not cope, however, the family had to engage a domestic helper. But she knows she must be positive and try her best. All Resources. An occupational therapist checks on Mdm Lee once every quarter – her mood, cognition and functional abilities – and engages her in various activities, such as flipping through a pack of cards showing various pictures. 0000005692 00000 n
Some areas of the city are enabling the elderly to receive some extra assistance with their grocery shopping, housecleaning, and other aspects of everyday life. It turned out to be a symptom of pancreatic cancer, which eventually spread to her stomach and lungs. And the mood will improve,” said principal occupational therapist Eng Jia Yen. Chronic illnesses beset them, they lose loved ones, and their memory plays tricks on them. According to the Singapore Mental Health Study in 2016, more than one out of seven people in Singapore will develop a mental health condition over their lifetime. “We’d like an activity that lets someone like Mdm Lee use her hands and coordination, but at the same time be happy that she has done something. She said: “I hope that my mum will stay healthy, to live a bit longer and happier.”. When he sees room 112, it reminds him of his wife. By clicking subscribe, I agree to receive news updates and promotional material from Mediacorp and Mediacorp's partners. Etched in Mdm Loh’s memory is the difficult period in 1992 when her eldest daughter had leukaemia, and her mother took care of her family. Older age was less likely to be associated with successful ageing – the odds of ageing successfully for older adults aged 75–84 years and ≥ 85 years were 0.3 times and 0.1 times, respectively, of that for participants aged 60–74 years. 0000007700 00000 n
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Her efforts have paid off: After grieving alone for five months, he became more active, taking a liking especially to Carrom. This service is not intended for persons residing in the EU. Chronic health conditions.
Copyright© Mediacorp 2020. It still shows, from the way he dusts their photo frames lovingly and from the tears that flow when he looks at their photo albums. It took much persuading by Mr Seah’s counsellor before he agreed to join in the activities at one centre. Soon after, she required hospice care. “I’d try to cool myself down … just walk into the kitchen and stay away from her. It hoped to prevent a difficult situation from arising after his wife’s death. 0000002494 00000 n
I kept rolling in bed until two or three o’clock before I could sleep.”. She has also got used to the maid, recognising the value of her help in moving around. SINGAPORE: Linda Loh remembers a time when her 85-year-old mother used to be a “very nice person”. With a change in environment, a patient like Mdm Lee would not have the “usual cues” needed to keep her brain “functioning normally”, Dr Tsoi explained. Dementia in Singapore affects 5.2 per cent of Singaporeans aged 60 and above. 0000001290 00000 n
At the same time, the number of elderly households in Singapore is rising rapidly owing to increased prevalence of smaller, nuclear families and the trend of more people remaining single. Guilt, burnout and sacrifice: Dementia patients’ caregivers ask ‘have I done enough? She didn’t pass away. “Despite the increase, what we’re seeing now is just the tip of the iceberg.”, (Read the commentary: Let's talk about depression). He calls her daily to check on her. %PDF-1.4
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The sociodemographic correlates of successful ageing were examined using logistic regression analysis and the results are presented in Table III. Besides professional intervention, what he recommends to his elderly patients is to “engage with friends, go out more and talk to people more”. And he still does one other thing: Visit Dover Park Hospice. Dr Tsoi said such a loss is “the most devastating” for elderly patients who had been married for a long time. As loneliness and physical illness gnawed away at Mdm Lee, her depression was compounded by worry that her hospital and medical bills would be a burden on her children. Institute of Mental Health’s Helpline: 6389 2222, Samaritans of Singapore Hotline: 1800 221 4444, Singapore Association of Mental Health Helpline: 1800 283 7019. (Read: Guilt, burnout and sacrifice: Dementia patients’ caregivers ask ‘have I done enough?'). As the healthcare system faces a new influx of seniors, experts warn that the system may not be ready to handle the mental health challenges that go along with aging. And she can laugh at photos of her younger self. “It relieves some tension. Epidemiological News Bulletin Information Papers Reports Guidelines Health Scope. Education, which can help with families managing elderly relatives can reduce public spending. Mdm Lee, too, was living alone before she fell ill, since her husband died 14 years ago. In cases like Mdm Lee’s, depressive mood swings are related to other health issues, like limited mobility and senile dementia, as well as loneliness and financial anxiety. 0000002941 00000 n
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Managing Your Mind Studies have shown that you can recover better if you get treated early. When she had a fall and was admitted to hospital in July 2016, the family found out the truth. the mental health status of a country over time. 41 0 obj
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At senior care centres, for example, with people available to help the elderly, there is “social pressure” to follow the activities, which they would not otherwise do at home. “The reason is depression is such a taboo (subject) in the population,” he said. Infectious Disease Statistics Singapore Health Facts Healthcare Institution Statistics. x�b```���l����(�������1�)�;_;�����Z6�ޜ������֎�I�[oDtn���? His already vulnerable mind was in a state of confusion. I have to concentrate to shoot and all that,” said Mr Seah, who feels more happiness and “freedom” when he goes out nowadays. 0000001719 00000 n
But that was only the start: His depression worsened when his wife was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Dr Tsoi is now seeing more cases of depressed seniors, roughly an increase of 5 per cent a year. The emotional and psychological needs of persons in recovery are met through face-to-face counselling sessions, support group sessions or the telephone helpline. She felt “so helpless” in the beginning. 0000003525 00000 n
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When I was sick, she looked after me. Concern for a family member is weighing on Mr Seah too, even as he tries to get over his wife’s death. “I never think of giving up on her, because I don’t want her to put up in an old folks’ home or nursing home. 0000003843 00000 n
Read about the demons and stigma working adults must battle. “At that time, I had another aunty, also about the same age as her,” said Mdm Loh, one of six children. 68 0 obj
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“My heart was aching.”, And then there is her mother’s full schedule of check-ups. “She’d feel sad, but she never spoke out.”. "She was full of fears. The latest SMHS study found that about 14% of Singaporeans have experienced a mood, anxiety or alcohol-use disorder in their lifetime. And her recovery has been slow. It looks like the email address you entered is not valid. In most cases, these mental health issues respond well to treatment. from After she shouted at the nurses, struggled with them and, at one stage, talked about committing suicide – which she nearly did by trying to strangle herself – she was diagnosed with an episode of Major Depressive Disorder. In the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine’s Community-based Early Psychiatric Intervention Strategy (2008), about 12 per cent of seniors who had depressive symptoms sought professional help, while 75 per cent did not see themselves as having a mental disorder. 0000008435 00000 n
He must stay on antidepressants, which help him to sleep. She helped to do the cooking, everything, for me, especially as my kids were quite young at that time,” Mdm Loh said gratefully. Get quick facts on dementia in Singapore and useful tips in this article. Dr Tsoi noted that depression in old age is not inevitable, precisely because “it’s very much down to how a person perceives things – how their own experience can help them”. It’s quite stressful for me, but I don’t really show it,” Mdm Loh said. Tan from Sage counselling Centre also visits him in his three-room flat, once every three elderly mental health statistics singapore. Spoke out. ” hoped to prevent a difficult situation from arising after his wife was diagnosed a... Helpless ” in the EU initially, however, she is willing to a! D say the words ‘ I want to commit suicide ’ for staying. And even wanted to chase Ms Loh, one of them constant encouragement, she stayed granddaughter. 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