Young people aged 18 to 29 and the elderly over 70 are two groups who are showing the greatest signs of mental health distress in Singapore. What are the triggers, and what is the journey to seek help like? Steven Chia speaks to 23-year-old university student “Rae”, 44-year-old father of teenagers Mak Kean Loong and senior clinical psychologist Chris Wong.
This episode of Heart of the Matter discusses suicide ideation. Listener discretion is advised.
Where to get help:
Samaritans of Singapore Hotline: 1767
Institute of Mental Health’s Helpline: 6389 2222
Singapore Association for Mental Health Helpline: 1800 283 7019
You can also find a list of international helplines here. If someone you know is at immediate risk, call 24-hour emergency medical services.
Jump to these key moments:
01:56 How 23-year-old “Rae” developed mental health issues03:38 The triggers that affected 44-year-old Mak Kean Loong08:09 What professionals see as common factors affecting those with issues10:04 How Mak got help through a hotline16:18 The challenges around stigma and mental health literacy20:42 What people in the community can do to help those who struggle
Find more episodes of Heart of the Matter here.
A new episode of Heart of the Matter drops every Friday. Follow the podcast on Apple or Spotify for the latest updates.
Have a great topic for us? Drop the team an email at cnapodcasts [at] mediacorp.com.sg