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5 November 2014
Question No. 346
Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr David Ong Kim Huat
MP for Jurong GRC
To ask the Minister for Health (a) what are the main types of mental illness affecting Singaporeans; (b) what is the number of relapses; and (c) what is the monitoring mechanism which our healthcare facilities use in identifying such relapses.
Answer
1 Based on national surveys conducted and Institute of Mental Health (IMH)’s data, the top three mental conditions affecting Singaporeans are Dementia, Depression and Anxiety.
2 For dementia, relapse episodes cannot be easily determined as the condition will progressively worsen overtime. For depression and anxiety, patients experience a relapse when they suffer an increase in the intensity of the illness affecting their daily routine. However, for patients whose daily functions are constantly affected by the severity of the illness, the ‘relapse’ will be less identifiable.
3 Nevertheless, studies have shown that at least 50% of those who recover from a first episode of depression will have one or more additional episodes in their lifetime. For anxiety disorders, it was shown that the relapse rate for generalized anxiety disorder was about 27% over a three-year period.
4 Our mental health clinics routinely monitor ‘no-show’ at outpatient attendances especially for high risk groups to ensure that our patients are reviewed regularly and any sign of early relapse can be managed in a timely manner.
5 Detecting signs of relapse early may enable intervention to prevent a full relapse or reduce its severity when it occurs. As family, friends and neighbours are closest to those with mental conditions, they are in the best position to detect warning signs (e.g.: change in behavior, disordered thinking or missing appointments) that indicate a potential relapse. In this respect, IMH and the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC) have been working with grassroots organizations and their volunteers to (a) increase mental health knowledge and skills so that they are able to recognise early signs; and (b) link residents who are displaying warning signs to appropriate mental health, general health or social services. As at end-FY13, AIC has engaged 12 constituencies, trained over 300 grassroots leaders and volunteers and assisted 190 residents.
6 Four community support teams led by Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) have also been set up through AIC to conduct home visits for clients identified by community partners, such as Family Service Centres (FSCs), Senior Activity Centres (SACs) and Town Councils, who may require more thorough assessments.
7 Additionally, AIC has worked with various VWOs to set up seven community engagement and support teams within SACs to identify elderly who may suffer from dementia or depression. These teams facilitate early recognition and provide basic emotional support to clients and caregivers. The seven teams have reached out to over 21,000 clients as at end-FY13. For those who require more intervention (eg: clinical care, psychotherapy), these support teams will then refer the patients to the specialist-led or allied health-led multidisciplinary teams in the community based on their needs.