Help Is A Strength
Connecting with others can improve mental well-being in young people.
Each generation faces its own struggles with mental health, but Gen Z and young millennials appear to be struggling with these challenges more than the generations born before 1980. The statistics in the National Population Health Survey 2022 (NPHS 2022) point to a rising trend of poor mental health in Singapore, especially among those aged between 18 to 39 years old. The findings of the Singapore Mental Health Study, conducted in 2010 and 2016, reinforce this: young people aged 18 to 34 years old are more likely to have mood and anxiety disorders.
A Fragile State Of Mind
There are many reasons why young people today are more susceptible to developing mental health issues than previous generations. A hyperconnected world that propagates knowledge but also breeds misinformation and a pandemic that has upended job security and weakened the economy are some changes that have amplified the stress for young people.
“The global forces that we face today are very different from 10 to 20 years ago,” says Ms Lee Yi Ping, Principal Case Manager & Programme Lead for CHAT, the Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health. CHAT is a national mental health assessment and outreach initiative for youth which comes under the care of the Institute of Mental Health (IMH).
“Given the significant improvement in population mobility and communications on a global level over the years, our youths today face greater competition in education and at work. With the advancement in technology, many jobs are also at risk of being displaced. These inevitably put greater pressure on youths to excel and be equipped with high-level skills for a stable future.” According to Ms Lee, the three areas of stress that consistently surface in Gen Z and young millennials are:
Suffering In Silence
Many people, especially youths, struggle with mental health on their own because of the stigma surrounding it. “Youths have a desire to achieve a sense of independence and therefore, prefer to rely on themselves when it comes to managing their own mental health difficulties,” says Ms Lee. “They fear being judged and labelled as ‘weak’ or ‘attention-seeking’, and may shy away from sharing their emotional difficulties or asking for help.”
Other reasons may include past negative experiences with helpseeking, concerns about not being able to commit to treatment due to time or financial constraints, or fear of jeopardising studies or work. Some believe that their mental health issues are not serious enough to warrant professional help, or that these issues will resolve with time.
Ms Gek Wan Sing, 24, was one of those who believed her depression was just a phase during secondary school. Her mental condition seemed to improve after she enrolled in polytechnic. But being in a new environment aggravated Ms Gek’s social anxiety to the point that she could not even eat during mealtimes at her orientation camp because she thought people were staring at her.
Immersion in a negative workplace culture during her internship worsened Ms Gek’s state of mind, at a time when she was already struggling with social anxiety. “I cried every day,” she said in a previous interview with IMH’s publication, Imagine. Yet, she could not leave the workplace as her internship was tied to her grade point average. “I am someone who relies heavily on external validation,” she revealed. “I am very affected by setbacks and doubt myself a lot if I don’t get the approval of others.”
Ms Gek knew she needed help beyond what her family or friends could offer. She found out about CHAT through her mother and made an appointment for an assessment. She was then referred to a psychiatrist and counsellor. “Meeting my psychiatrist was the turning point. He was very reassuring, and when I was diagnosed with depression and social anxiety, I felt like there was finally hope,” she shared. “I knew now, at least, what I was going through, and the medication helped my mood. Eventually, I was referred to a psychologist, whom I speak with to sort out my thoughts.”
The help of therapy and medication has eased Ms Gek’s social anxiety, even though she occasionally feels apprehensive in larger groups with unfamiliar faces. “I don’t doubt myself so much now, and I don’t dwell on negative thoughts,” she said. Instead, she has decided to help others like her by joining CHAT’s team of youth ambassadors.
As a CHAT Ambassador, she participates in mental health outreach events and supports peers in distress. The lived experiences of Ambassadors like Ms Gek, and their personal stories, can be a powerful tool in encouraging others who are facing similar problems.
There is still a lack of understanding of what constitutes mental well-being and mental illness, observes Ms Lee. “Mental health is a continuum — a person experiences varying degrees of wellness depending on their interactions with the external environment. This is separate from mental illnesses, which are health conditions that affect the brain, resulting in changes in emotion, thinking or behaviour. These changes may worsen over time and affect the individual’s ability to perform day-to-day tasks and even his or her interactions with others. Poor mental health increases one’s risk of developing mental illnesses,” she explains.
Ms Lee also debunks the myth that people with good mental health do not experience distress. “From time to time, we encounter challenges at school, work, or from relationships that cannot be resolved easily. People with good mental health can also experience distress in the face of such challenges. A key to maintaining good mental health is to learn or refine our strategies to manage new challenges and their associated distress,” she says. “There is no quick fix to resolve distress and mental health issues.”
Find Your Support Squad
One of the things that does have a positive impact on mental well-being is social support. Fortunately, young people between the ages of 18 and 29 are more willing to share about their mental health struggles, according to the findings in the NPHS 2022. Nine out of 10 respondents said they were willing to tap on informal support networks such as friends, relatives, colleagues, religious leaders, and teachers; and six out of 10 would seek professional help. Social support falls into three categories:
It is important to widen our social networks as diverse individuals provide various forms of social support. Having a diverse network ensures we are more likely to receive the type of support that we need in different situations and at different times.
Ms Lee recognises that not everyone has access to family support. “At CHAT, we have encountered young people who have no support from family due to estranged relationships. This reinforces the importance for one to grow his or her social network beyond just family members.”
Also, young people are typically more receptive to advice from peers in the same age group as they share the same values, experiences, and lifestyle, and thus are able to relate their concerns better than their parents or even experts.
Beyond Friends & Family
It is important to realise when the support we need is beyond the ability of our social and familial circle. Sudden changes in thinking, feeling, and behaviour that progressively affect the ability to handle academic or work demands, and changes in interactions with others are signs that one needs to talk to a professional. In her experience, Ms Lee has found that young people seek help when they feel that poor mental health has significantly affected their interpersonal or professional life.
She adds, “With timely and appropriate medical and psychosocial interventions by formal sources of support like healthcare professionals — coupled with informal sources of support like family and friends — young people stand a better chance with recovery and can regain their capability to pursue their ambitions in life.”
There are many mental health services available today, from free counselling services to community-based organisations offering counselling and case management support services to young people and their families. These services may be available via phone and face to face sessions, as well as text-based support through WhatsApp, email, and video chats.
“A truly beneficial support group, professional or social support network, is one that helps you grow as a person,” advises Ms Lee. “It is also important to learn to be our own greatest supporter as it serves as a back-up during times we experience unsupportive friends and family. Employ positive self-talk and practise being kind and gentle with yourself.”LW
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