Educate society to better understand mental illness

I refer to the report “Considerable stigma against mental illness: Study” (Oct 7). It is no surprise that the study made such findings, because not only do people have stigma against mental illnesses, they have little or no knowledge about it. For example, depression is a major health problem in Singapore, with the 2010 Singapore National Mental Health Survey reporting a 6.3 per cent lifetime prevalence of depression in the Singapore adult population. This may seem small, but there are many other cases unreported and undetected, especially in schools and workplaces.

Having a mental illness is not a choice and one cannot simply choose to get better. One needs a lot of encouragement, support and a positive environment to come out of their shells.

As stated, many hide from seeking treatment because of a fear of judgement by society. That judgement comes from a lack of awareness and understanding, which can be changed with education. Society does not need to be masters or specialists in mental illnesses; society simply needs to know how to spot symptoms of mental illnesses, how to engage with persons with mental illnesses, and know what treatment and help are available. These can be done only with initiatives from bodies such as the Health Promotion Board, the Institute of Mental Health or even the Singapore Psychological Society.

Only with good general knowledge among the public can persons with mental illnesses live without fear, be comfortable in their own skin and seek the help they need with constant support from the people around them.

This initiative can start by schooling children, who are still growing and developing every day. In the long term, I hope to have a society that is not only aware, but also understands, mental illnesses and is ready to provide support to those who suffer from it.