In Singapore, 1 in 7 people report experiencing a mental health challenge in their lifetime.
COVID-19 has exacerbated mental health issues as people struggle to adjust to the “new normal”.
The Samaritans of Singapore, a suicide prevention organization, received over 39,000 calls for help in 2020 – an 18 percent increase from the year before.
At Daughters Of Tomorrow, we work to equip women with skills, jobs and opportunities for a brighter future. We recognize that mental health is equally integral to building that future. We hope to bring awareness that normalizes seeking help around mental health and provide references to people who are want or need help/support.
However, mental health remains a stigmatized issue with people shying away from seeking help. In many cases they turn to confidential and anonymous sources – such as the Internet.
In partnership with Quilt.AI, DOT used digital insights from 56,000 unique searches and 150 Twitter posts to understand – how has COVID-19 shaped online behaviors around mental health? What are some emerging issues?
This is what we found:
People are seeking services and treatment at a growing rate
Singapore has taken great strides in building up its mental health resources and outreach.
In the last year, searches related to general information about mental health (e.g. symptoms of depression) have made up the largest volume of searches. In the first six months of the pandemic (February-July 2020), more than half (54%) of mental health related searches were for general information. Searches related to treatment (e.g. antidepressants) made up 30%, followed by Services (e.g. therapy near me) at 15%.
In the last six months, searches for information have decreased. However, searches related to services and treatment have grown at 3.2% and 1%. This could demonstrate that people are aware of mental health issues and showing interest in services and treatment.
Despite the slight growth, a look at specific search keywords show what kind of services and treatment are increasingly sought:
- “Local therapist near me” – 100%
- “Dealing with post traumatic stress” – 100%
- “Counseling therapy” – 37%
- “Therapist near me” – 30%
- “Depression clinic near me” – 20%
Interest in treatment also grew, specifically around eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (86%), treatment for depression (40%), and cognitive behavior therapy (38%).
Strengthen focus on information and services for women and girls
The pandemic has brought the yawning gender equality gap to the forefront. In Singapore, one in three adults, particularly women, younger adults, and those of lower socioeconomic status, are experiencing psychological distress related to COVID-19.
Tailoring mental health interventions to characteristics like gender and age are integral during crisis.
Our study found that searches related to mental health and women or girls saw more growth than those about men. This trend was apparent in all categories of information, services, and treatment. The search keywords that grew were:
- “symptoms of depression in women” – 174% (compared to the same search for men at 13%)
- “signs of depression in women” – 100%
- “therapy for girls” – 100%
- “depression in women” – 17%
- “counseling for women” – 16%
Service providers are exemplifying best practices for mental health awareness and services
Since COVID-19, the government and NGOs have led several initiatives to raise mental health awareness. For example, initiatives like #SeeItBlue and convening a Mental Wellness Taskforce demonstrate how various approaches can reach people and set up institutional support. We found that the government and NGOs followed a few best practices that can be followed by others. In particular:
- Finding your mental health resources in one place. The Singapore Government hosts a webpage that has all the hotlines and services for people who are seeking emotional or psychosocial support.
- Free online counseling to ensure it is accessible to everyone. NGOs such as Samaritans of Singapore, Silver Ribbon Singapore, and Fei Yue Community services provide free online counseling. These are advertised by the government and made possible after the Singapore Psychological Society rallied its members.
Support for mental health permeates into the workplace. From the Ministry of Manpower to the National Employers Federation – there is a nationwide call for employers to take stock of their workers’ mental health. Their recommendations encourage workplaces to establish work-life balance, let employees use flexible hours for mental health support, and train staff to spot signs of distress and offer help to colleagues. These initiatives also foster a work environment that destigmatizes mental health so staff are more likely to seek help.
Mental health for a brighter future
In the last year, people, especially women, have been burdened with many challenges. Securing childcare, balancing work, or seeking employment are triggers for growing anxiety and stress. In these trying times, taking care of one’s mental health is of utmost importance. For more information or questions, please reach out to someone at Daughters Of Tomorrow.