Speech by President Halimah Yacob at Berita Harian-PPIS Webinar on Mental Health

Mdm Hazlina Abdul Halim, PPIS President

Mr Saat Abdul Rahman, Berita Harian Editor

Ladies and gentlemen

A very good morning to all. It gives me great pleasure to be part of today’s webinar. I would like to thank the Singapore Muslim Women’s Association (PPIS) and Berita Harian for organising this meaningful platform to discuss a topic close to my heart. I encourage more of such open conversations to effect positive change within the community.

One week from now, we will commemorate World Mental Health Day. It is therefore a timely occasion for all of us to gather today to discuss how we can help raise awareness of mental health, correct misconceptions and promote greater social inclusion towards a better society for all.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a heightened sense of anxiety over the economic uncertainty. This is worsened by the evolving public health situation of COVID-19, changes to daily routines as well as social isolation due to restricted physical interactions and prevailing safe management measures. All these factors can aggravate the mental wellness of any individual, especially for the vulnerable segments of our community, including those with pre-existing mental conditions.

Local studies have reflected the adverse psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on various segments of the population. A study by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) found that between May 2020 to June this year, about 13 per cent of the general population reported experiencing depression or anxiety symptoms, during the one year since the pandemic started. In polls conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the National Youth Council during the second half of 2020, mental health was cited as a challenge by over half of the youth population. Top stressors included anxiety over the future, stress over finances as well as worries about academic or work performance. Many continue to face increased pressure to perform, with several indicating that their mental well-being has worsened since the onset of the pandemic.

The National Council of Social Service (NCSS) also conducted a study exploring the impact of COVID-19 on groups that might need more support, including lower income households and persons with disabilities. The study found that during the Circuit Breaker, stress in psychological and psychosomatic areas such as pain and discomfort, were common across groups. The Singapore Management University Centre for Research on Successful Ageing reported a stark increase in feelings of isolation among respondents as the Circuit Breaker started in April 2020, with larger increases for those living alone. This is worrying as research has also shown that social isolation is often associated with negative mental health outcomes.

It is thus clear that COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the mental well-being of Singapore’s population. This in turn has led to the increased use of mental health services and facilities. The National CARE Hotline (NCH) was launched in April 2020 to provide support to those facing mental health concerns, such as anxiety and adjustment issues related to COVID-19. As of end August 2021, the hotline handled over 50,000 calls. The top three concerns cited by callers to the hotline pertained to the need of emotional support, mental health-related issues and family-related or social matters.

All these statistics had highlighted the impact of the pandemic. The COVID-19 Mental Wellness Taskforce was formed in October last year to look into the mental health impact of the pandemic on the Singapore population. The review was recently concluded in August and a new Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being has been convened to oversee mental health efforts in the long run, and beyond the pandemic.  This new Taskforce will coordinate interagency efforts, focusing on cross-cutting issues that entail multi- and inter-agency collaboration. This is a step in the right direction.

However, such national efforts will not be effective without ground-up support from the community. Being closer to the ground, community organisations can provide useful feedback to the Taskforce.  Community organisations can also respond more nimbly to the needs of those at-risk, or address issues specific to their communities.

We must also acknowledge the existence of social stigma surrounding mental health. It does not help individuals with mental health conditions if they feel that their situation arose from a lack of strength in character, faith, or willpower. Instead of viewing a mental health condition as a sign of failure or incompetency, we must recognise that these individuals can seek treatment, and encourage them to do so early.

We need to see mental health as part of our overall health, and is something we can take care of, just like how we take care of our physical well-being. We also need to learn to self-care, and be able to openly talk about the challenges we face. Safe spaces for frank conversations will help normalise the act of seeking help. Our courage can inspire others to do the same.

Just like how we fall sick sometimes, our mental health can also suffer in times of stress or difficulties. It is key to catch the symptoms early. But of equal importance is the kind of support we get at home, schools, workplaces and the community for recovery to take place.

In the case of children with mental conditions, the role of parents is also critical.  Within the family structure, the prevailing stigma associated with mental health can have devastating consequences if parents avoid seeking help for their children. It is thus imperative for the community to make it acceptable for parents to talk about the mental health of their children.

I am glad that we are doing something about this within the Malay/Muslim community. There have been various initiatives focused on strengthening the pyscho-social resilience of the community. During the Circuit Breaker, the SGTeguhBersatu (‘Resilient in Unity’) Taskforce conceptualised a psycho-social resilience framework and an e-info toolkit to help individuals and families cope with stress and challenges brought by the pandemic. This has been complemented by ground-up initiatives by Malay/Muslim organisations such as Club Heal and PPIS. For example, PPIS has introduced the SYM Academy, a safe space where Muslim women can work on improving their mental health and well-being. Such efforts build up the community resources available and provide avenues for people to seek support without judgement.

Overhauling deep-rooted societal mindsets requires the efforts of every one of us within the community. It is tempting to think that as individuals, our efforts are barely enough to elicit real, positive change in the mental health landscape in Singapore. However, a little goes a long way in caring for and supporting someone. We do not know how much someone who is suffering mentally really needs our presence, attention, kindness or support. It is on us to create safe spaces in society so that increasingly, more people will feel comfortable to come forward and reach out for help.

Everyone has a stake in the state of our collective mental health. We can proactively question labels. We can have more discourse around mental health-related issues. We can learn to listen without putting forth our own judgements or offer solutions. We can also remember that we are all susceptible to it, if we do not take steps towards mental resilience. Building mental resilience is a lifelong affair which must start from young, just as how we take care of our physical health or wellness. Let me now say a few words in Malay.

Usaha mengubah tanggapan masyarakat yang sudah berakar umbi memerlukan usaha setiap orang dalam masyarakat. Mudah untuk kita menganggap bahawa sebagai individu, usaha kita tidak cukup untuk menghasilkan perubahan positif yang nyata dalam landskap kesihatan mental di Singapura. Namun, usaha yang kecil pun boleh meninggalkan kesan besar dalam menjaga dan menyokong seseorang. Kita tidak tahu betapa seseorang yang menghadapi masalah mental amat memerlukan kehadiran, perhatian, kebaikan atau sokongan kita. Kita harus mewujudkan ruang yang selamat dalam masyarakat agar lebih ramai orang akan kian merasa selesa untuk tampil dan meminta bantuan.

Setiap orang mempunyai peranan dalam keadaan kesihatan mental kita secara keseluruhan. Kita boleh mempersoal label yang diberi secara proaktif. Kita boleh mengadakan lebih banyak wacana tentang isu kesihatan mental. Kita boleh belajar mendengar tanpa membuat penilaian sendiri atau menawarkan penyelesaian. Kita juga harus ingat bahawa semua orang boleh terjejas dengannya jika kita tidak mengambil langkah untuk meraih daya tahan mental. Usaha membina daya tahan mental merupakan usaha sepanjang hayat dan harus bermula dari usia muda, sama seperti bagaimana kita menjaga kesihatan atau kesejahteraan fizikal kita.

This morning’s webinar is an important initiative to reach out to our community on creating awareness of mental health and well-being. Beyond the webinar, I urge like-minded institutions to continue to collaborate with one another to bolster efforts at strengthening the mental well-being of the community. Agencies can also join the national movement Beyond the Label, to reduce the stigma and promote social inclusion for persons with mental health conditions.

In closing, I want to say again that we are all not alone on this journey. A collective and collaborative approach is necessary to be effective in our efforts to build a more caring and inclusive society. Together, we can empower those living with mental health conditions to achieve their fullest potential, and help others in their recovery passage, as we strive towards a better tomorrow for all. Thank you.