SINGAPORE, SEPT 26 – A large number of youth in Singapore suffer from severe or very severe symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress, according to a nationwide survey of youth mental health by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH).
Nearly a third of young people aged 15 to 35 report symptoms such as feeling confused, tense or upset most of the time, according to the National Youth Mental Health Survey.
“Navigating the complexities of adolescence is challenging enough, but young people today struggle with unique issues that previous generations did not,” said Associate Professor Swapna Verma, who chairs the IMH medical board and co-lead author of the study.
“For example, social media has exposed them to constant comparison, increasing concerns about skills or body shape.
Anonymous users online also give rise to cyberbullying which adds a new dimension of ongoing and wider harassment.”
Young people are more likely to report experiencing the following mental symptoms if they have experienced cyber bullying, worry about their body shape or have used social media for more than three hours a day, according to an IMH study published on September 19.
Epidemiological studies across the country demonstrate the prevalence of severe symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, along with associated factors including cyberbullying, body image concerns and excessive use of social media, as well as gaps in treatment and support resources for youth in the country. .
The one-third figure is similar to the findings of other research studies based on self-reports, according to the Ministry of Health, Education, and Social and Family Development in a joint statement.
In particular, symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were found to occur commonly among those aged 15 to 24 years and in the Malay ethnic group.
Between October 2022 and June 2023, a total of 2,600 Singaporeans and permanent residents completed a set of questionnaires on tablets provided by interviewers. They received a payment of $50 for completing the questionnaire.
They also went through a number of test scales, including the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, a set of three self-report scales designed to measure the emotional states of depression, anxiety and stress experienced by individuals in the previous week.
A youth study found that anxiety is the most common mental health problem experienced by young people in Singapore. About one in four reported experiencing severe or very severe symptoms of anxiety in the week before the survey. This includes feeling anxious, tense and restless most of the time.
About 15 percent of Singapore’s youth experienced similar symptoms of depression, while nearly 13 percent were very depressed, unable to relax, or felt upset or irritable most of the time in the week before the survey.
What is positive is that about two out of three of those who reported experiencing severe or very severe mental health symptoms have sought help, particularly by going to family and friends.
One in three young people do not seek help, despite having severe or very severe symptoms. Prof Swapna said this gave IMH an opportunity to find ways to make interventions or early intervention measures, including looking at strengthening the mental health curriculum in schools.
Those who chose not to seek help said they did not believe that a specialist would be able to help them, or they were worried about what other people would think of them. Another concern is about privacy, confidentiality and having poor and permanent records of their condition.
The study also found that young people who were less likely to experience symptoms of depression, anxiety and/or stress had higher levels of resilience, perceptions of social support and higher self-esteem.
Although not all individuals who experience these symptoms are clinically ill, being in such a condition for a long period of time can be harmful to them, said Prof Swapna.
By identifying groups that are more at risk of developing mental health disorders, the findings of this study will allow policy makers and service providers to develop a more targeted approach in addressing their needs and preventing them from developing mental illness, he added.
This IMH study, like many others, shows that excessive use of social media is a public health concern and has a significant impact on youth mental health, said Associate Professor Mythily Subramaniam, assistant chair of the medical board (research) at IMH and co-principal investigator. study.
Research around the world has found that teenagers who spend more than three hours per day on social media may be at increased risk for mental health problems, especially depression. mood and worry, he said.
The identification of important associated factors, such as excessive social media use, body image concerns and cyberbullying, also underscores the importance of integrating prevention measures into school and youth services, she added.
“Furthermore, the three factors may have the potential to be linked to each other. The amount of time young people spend on social media can also be linked to cyber bullying and both can be linked to body image concerns,” he said.
The IMH study was carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Chat (Youth Mental Health Center of Excellence) and the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
In various media releases, the government said that the findings from the study confirmed the whole-of-government and community approach to addressing mental health issues in the National Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy launched by the Government in October 2023.
Many steps under the strategy have already been implemented, while others will be implemented progressively over the next few years.
For example, school students go through their school curriculum with the knowledge and skills to manage their own mental well-being.
Parents can get help with things like managing screen use from the program Parenting for Wellness of which the first phase of the resource was launched on September 18, the joint release said.
Furthermore, in the first half of 2025, guidance on the healthy use of technology and social media, and to provide recommendations on how to reduce negative effects will be prepared, he said. – ANN/The Straits Times
