Recent study reveals improved mental health literacy and reduced stigma, marking progress in public attitudes.
Improved Awareness of Mental Health Conditions in Singapore
A recent study by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) shows significant progress in Singaporeans’ understanding of mental health conditions, with nearly six in ten respondents able to identify common disorders like dementia, depression, and schizophrenia. The findings also reveal a reduction in stigma surrounding mental health issues, indicating a shift towards a more inclusive society.
The Mind Matters study, first conducted in 2014-2015 and repeated from 2022 to 2024, aimed to assess public knowledge and perceptions about mental health, including attitudes towards stigma. In the latest survey, 58.9% of participants could identify five key mental health conditions, a significant increase from 42.3% in the previous study. The conditions recognized included dementia, depression, schizophrenia, alcohol abuse, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Key Findings and Progress
The study found that 63.3% of respondents could identify all seven conditions, including new additions like gambling disorder and depression with suicidality. These results demonstrate a positive trend in mental health literacy, attributed to various awareness campaigns and anti-stigma initiatives launched in recent years.
Notably, the recognition of OCD has improved dramatically, with 62.3% of respondents identifying the condition, up from just 28.7% in the first survey. Awareness of schizophrenia, however, remains low, with only 15.1% of respondents correctly identifying the condition, a modest increase from the previous study.
Reducing Stigma and Changing Attitudes
The survey also examined stigma by assessing perceptions of individuals with mental health conditions. Results showed a decrease in stigma, with fewer respondents viewing people with mental illnesses as dangerous or weak. However, conditions like gambling disorder and alcohol abuse were still seen by some as a sign of personal weakness, underscoring the need for more compassionate public education campaigns.
The Role of Education and Social Media
Minister of State for Social and Family Development Sun Xueling highlighted that younger people, particularly those aged 18 to 34, exhibit less stigmatizing attitudes toward mental health. This group is believed to be better informed due to exposure to mental health education in schools and the influence of social media content.
The study surveyed 4,195 Singaporean citizens and permanent residents aged 18 to 67, with face-to-face interviews conducted between September 2022 and February 2024. While the improvements in public awareness are encouraging, experts stress the importance of continued efforts to address the remaining gaps, particularly in conditions like schizophrenia and substance-related disorders.
