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Mental illnesses can develop due to many factors like large amounts of stress, dysfunctional relationships, and even poor nutrition (WebMD, 2020). For instance, stress is easily accumulated, and it is often released in unhealthy ways – like revenge procrastination. This phenomenon involves staying up late to make up for the business of the day, leading to sleep deprivation, lack of focus, and irritability. The stress then builds up because of this, leading to a vicious cycle.

Some conclusions from a mental health study (Qing, 2022) conducted by the National University of Singapore, the Education Ministry, and the Institute of Mental Health, include:

  1. Symptoms of internalizing mental illness like anxiety and sadness had been reported by almost 33% of youth.
  2. Youth aged 14-16 years old were found to have lower resilience than the rest of the youth in the study.
  3. The study had discovered that high self-esteem and healthy relationships were key in overcoming and preventing self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

Another study had found that a staggering 70% of Singaporeans aged 35-44 years old had reported that the COVID-19 pandemic had negatively impacted their mental health. The study had also concluded that Singaporeans had the largest increase in reports of negatively impacted mental health (Robinson, 2022).

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It is without a doubt that the pandemic had changed the lives of people worldwide, and with all the rapid changes – with likely very little time for people to keep up with, it had contributed to, or perhaps caused, mental health problems.

Mayo Clinic (2019) states that mental illnesses unfortunately cannot be completely prevented. Hence, it is critical that we prioritize our mental health as much as possible to ensure our well-being. We must make the effort to engage in healthy coping mechanisms to stress and negative thoughts, to boost our perseverance to overcome life’s challenges (Mayo Clinic). 

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What greatly helps to sustain mental health is reaching out for support – be it from your loved ones, friends, or professionals, whenever you need it. Do not be afraid to lean on others, let them support you. You are never a burden for asking for help!

Also, it is highly encouraged to stay educated on mental health and mental illness to keep yourself and your loved ones in check. There is a vast amount of information on the various mental disorders – be it videos, infographics, books, and more. Awareness may also be a first step in ending the stigma.

Till next time, take care, and look forward to our next article on self-care tips and mental health management!

 

References

Bhandari, S. (June 30, 2020). Causes of Mental Illness. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-causes-mental-illness 

Mayo Clinic Staff. (June 8, 2019). Mental illness. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/symptoms-causes/syc-20374968#:~:text=Stressful%20life%20situations%2C%20such%20as,as%20military%20combat%20or%20assault 

Qing, A. (May 20, 2022). About 1 in 3 young people in Singapore has mental health symptoms: Study. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/about-1-in-3-youths-in-singapore-has-mental-health-symptoms-study 

Robinson, F. (March 29, 2022). Six in ten Singapore residents say the pandemic has adversely impacted mental health. YouGov. https://business.yougov.com/content/41820-six-ten-singapore-residents-say-pandemic-has-adver