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Mental Health and Well-being of Youth's in Singapore

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Mental Health and Well-being of Youth's in Singapore

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Government

Schools

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Friends

Family

Teachers

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Student

Parent

Me

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World health organization

World

Nations

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explanation:

Children with childhood trauma will not know how to express their emotions, resulting in sudden release of explosive emotion. Childhood trauma can be caused by lack of consistent comfort

reference link:

https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/complex-trauma/effects#:~:text=Emotional%20Responses&text=They%20often%20internalize%20and%2For,anger%2C%20sadness%2C%20or%20avoidance.

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Children whose families and homes do not provide consistent safety, comfort, and protection may develop ways of coping that allow them to survive and function day to day.

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explanation:

When stress build up over time, the risk of mental health will increase. These stress can be built upped by overload of work, unaware of ways to relieve stress. Can cause mental health issues like anxiety and depression

reference link:

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Overview

Stress is a normal response to situational pressures or demands, especially if they are perceived as threatening or dangerous. Stress is the result of brain chemicals, called hormones, surging through the body. These hormones make people sweat, breathe quicker, tense their muscles and prepare to take action. When this happens, a person's built-in alarm system-their "fight-or-flight" response-becomes activated to protect them.

A certain amount of stress is a normal part of daily life. Small doses of stress help people meet deadlines, be prepared for presentations, be productive and arrive on time for important events. However, long-term stress can become harmful. When stress becomes overwhelming and prolonged, the risks for mental health problems and medical problems increase.

Long-term stress increases the risk of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, substance use problems, sleep problems, pain and bodily complaints such as muscle tension. It also increases the risk of medical problems such as headaches, gastrointestinal problems, a weakened immune system, difficulty conceiving, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Signs & Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of stress may be cognitive (thinking-related), emotional, physical or behavioural. Their severity can range from mild to severe.

Cognitive symptoms include:

difficulty concentrating or thinking

memory problems

negativity or lack of self-confidence

constant worrying

difficulty making decisions.

Emotional symptoms include:

moodiness

low morale

irritability

feeling hopeless or helpless

feeling apprehensive, anxious or nervous

feeling depressed

feeling unhappy or guilty

feeling agitated or unable to relax.

Physical symptoms include:

headaches

muscle tension or other physical pain or discomfort

stomach problems

nausea, diarrhea or vomiting

loss of sex drive

rapid heart rate

high blood pressure

fatigue.

Behavioural symptoms include:

changes in eating or sleeping patterns

social withdrawal

nervous habits such as nail biting, teeth grinding or foot tapping

increased use of caffeine, cigarettes, alcohol or other drugs

neglect of family or work responsibilities

decline in performance or productivity.

Causes & Risk Factors

Stress often results if a person feels that there are high pressures or demands, that there is a threat to their well-being or that they don't have enough resources to cope with the demands.

Common sources of stress include a person's physical environment (e.g., noisy streets or an unsafe living space), relationships, work, life situations and major life changes. These situations can include negative events such as financial problems, relationship breakup, difficulties at work or school, injury, illness or death and grieving. However, situations leading to stress can also include positive changes, such as work promotions, getting married or buying a house.

Because stress is a normal part of life, everyone experiences it. However, the intensity, frequency and duration of stress will be different for each person. Numerous factors can make the experience of stress worse, such as when people:

have limited social support

have multiple stressors

have difficulty regulating or balancing their emotions

have difficulty tolerating uncertainty or distress

lack self-confidence or do not feel they can cope with the stressor

interpret the stressor negatively, so that they feel powerless, overwhelmed or helpless.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Practicing self-care is important for reducing stress. Some good ways to reduce and manage stress include eating well, exercising regularly, trying to reduce negativity, prioritizing leisure time, limiting alcohol and caffeine, avoiding cigarettes and other drugs, and adopting proper sleep hygiene.

Other ways to help reduce and cope with stress include:

prioritizing, organizing and delegating tasks

seeking support from family and friends

attending a support group or stress management program, consulting a health care professional or accessing self-help materials.

Once a person feels a sense of emotional well-being, they feel stronger and more able to bounce back from stress. This helps them feel that they can cope better with difficult life events.

Severe stress may be a symptom of an anxiety disorder. Seek professional help if the signs and symptoms of stress have been present for a long period of time; if your functioning at work, school, home or socially is affected; or if you experience increasing stress and emotional difficulties. Recovery from chronic stress is possible.

Related Programs and Services

Additional Resources

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Stress is a normal response to everyday pressures or demands, but chronic stress can lead to mental health problems and medical issues.

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explanation:

Social media can cause you to form mental health problems like anxiety and depression. This is because we use social media to communicate with one another, causing in-person contact to no longer happen less frequently, causing hormones that alleviate stress to not be triggered, making you feel lonely and isolated, causing mental health problems to form.

It can also cause you to be addicted to your phone, leading to not doing things productively, for example spending time on phone instead of studying, leading to grades dropping, leading to build up of stress

reference link:

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Social Media and Mental Health: Social Media Addiction

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Excessive use of social media can fuel anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Here’s how to change your habits and improve your mood.

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explanation:

School with negative or stressful environment will and can lead to increase in mental health like anxiety and depression.

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explanation:

When school's demands is too much to handle, students will feel stressed and overwhelmed

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explanation:

Feeling safe coming to school is crucial as it gives the students a sense of assurance, allowing the students to relax and feel protected in school, not needing to worry about their safety, allowing them to focus on their studies.

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Teachers who provide support, positive feedbacks and encouragement to their student will shape a positive mental health outcome as it build a child's self-esteem and resilience.

Students will not need to fear coming to school or lack the motive to learn due to the lack of teacher's support.

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explanation:

Friends can allow you to not feel isolated and lonely. They provide companionship that allows you to have a sense of belonging. Spending time together and having fun can boost your happiness, relieving stress.

reference link:

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Friendships: Enrich your life and improve your health

Discover the connection between health and friendship, and how to promote and maintain healthy friendships.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Friendships can have a major impact on your health and well-being, but it's not always easy to develop or maintain friendships. Understand the importance of social connection in your life and what you can do to develop and nurture lasting friendships.

What are the benefits of friendships?

Good friends are good for your health. Friends can help you celebrate good times and provide support during bad times. Friends prevent isolation and loneliness and give you a chance to offer needed companionship, too. Friends can also:

Increase your sense of belonging and purpose

Boost your happiness and reduce your stress

Improve your self-confidence and self-worth

Help you cope with traumas, such as divorce, serious illness, job loss or the death of a loved one

Encourage you to change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as excessive drinking or lack of exercise

Friends also play a significant role in promoting your overall health. Adults with strong social connections have a reduced risk of many significant health problems, including depression, high blood pressure and an unhealthy body mass index (BMI). In fact, studies have found that older adults who have meaningful relationships and social support are likely to live longer than their peers with fewer connections.

Why is it sometimes hard to make friends or maintain friendships?

Many adults find it hard to develop new friendships or keep up existing friendships. Friendships may take a back seat to other priorities, such as work or caring for children or aging parents. You and your friends may have grown apart due to changes in your lives or interests. Or maybe you've moved to a new community and haven't yet found a way to meet people.

Developing and maintaining good friendships takes effort. The enjoyment and comfort friendship can provide, however, makes the investment worthwhile.

What's a healthy number of friends?

Quality counts more than quantity. While it may be good to cultivate a diverse network of friends and acquaintances, you may feel a greater sense of belonging and well-being by nurturing close, meaningful relationships that will support you through thick and thin.

What are some ways to meet new friends?

It's possible to develop friendships with people who are already in your social network. Think through people you've interacted with - even very casually - who made a positive impression.

You may make new friends and nurture existing relationships by:

Staying in touch with people with whom you've worked or taken classes

Reconnecting with old friends

Reaching out to people you've enjoyed chatting with at social gatherings

Introducing yourself to neighbors

Making time to connect with family members

If anyone stands out in your memory as someone you'd like to know better, reach out. Ask mutual friends or acquaintances to share the person's contact information, or - even better - to reintroduce the two of you with a text, email or in-person visit. Extend an invitation to coffee or lunch.

To meet new people who might become your friends, you have to go to places where others are gathered. Don't limit yourself to one strategy for meeting people. The broader your efforts, the greater your likelihood of success.

Persistence also matters. Take the initiative rather than waiting for invitations to come your way and keep trying. You may need to suggest plans a few times before you can tell if your interest in a new friend is mutual.

For example, try several of these ideas:

Attend community events. Look for groups or clubs that gather around an interest or hobby you share. You may find these groups online, or they may be listed in the newspaper or on community bulletin boards. There are also many websites that help you connect with new friends in your neighborhood or city. Do a Google search using terms such as [your city] + social network, or [your neighborhood] + meet ups.

Volunteer. Offer your time or talents at a hospital, place of worship, museum, community center, charitable group or other organization. You can form strong connections when you work with people who have mutual interests.

Extend and accept invitations. Invite a friend to join you for coffee or lunch. When you're invited to a social gathering, say yes. Contact someone who recently invited you to an activity and return the favor.

Take up a new interest. Take a college or community education course to meet people who have similar interests. Join a class at a local gym, senior center or community fitness facility.

Join a faith community. Take advantage of special activities and get-to-know-you events for new members.

Take a walk. Grab your kids or pet and head outside. Chat with neighbors who are also out and about or head to a popular park and strike up conversations there.

Above all, stay positive. You may not become friends with everyone you meet but maintaining a friendly attitude and demeanor can help you improve the relationships in your life. It may also sow the seeds of friendship with new acquaintances.

How does social media affect friendships?

Joining a chat group or online community might help you make or maintain connections and relieve loneliness. However, research suggests that use of social networking sites doesn't necessarily translate to a larger offline network or closer offline relationships with network members. In addition, remember to exercise caution when sharing personal information or arranging an activity with someone you've only met online.

How can I nurture my friendships?

Developing and maintaining healthy friendships involves give-and-take. Sometimes you're the one giving support, and other times you're on the receiving end. Letting friends know you care about them and appreciate them can help strengthen your bond. It's as important for you to be a good friend as it is to surround yourself with good friends.

To nurture your friendships:

Be kind. This most-basic behavior remains the core of successful relationships. Think of friendship as an emotional bank account. Every act of kindness and every expression of gratitude are deposits into this account, while criticism and negativity draw down the account.

Be a good listener. Ask what's going on in your friends' lives. Let the other person know you are paying close attention through eye contact, body language and occasional brief comments such as, "That sounds fun." When friends share details of hard times or difficult experiences, be empathetic, but don't give advice unless your friends ask for it.

Open up. Build intimacy with your friends by opening up about yourself. Being willing to disclose personal experiences and concerns shows that your friend holds a special place in your life, and it may deepen your connection.

Show that you can be trusted. Being responsible, reliable and dependable is key to forming strong friendships. Keep your engagements and arrive on time. Follow through on commitments you've made to your friends. When your friends share confidential information, keep it private.

Make yourself available. Building a close friendship takes time - together. Make an effort to see new friends regularly, and to check in with them in between meet ups. You may feel awkward the first few times you talk on the phone or get together, but this feeling is likely to pass as you get more comfortable with each other.

Manage your nerves with mindfulness. You may find yourself imagining the worst of social situations, and you may feel tempted to stay home. Use mindfulness exercises to reshape your thinking. Each time you imagine the worst, pay attention to how often the embarrassing situations you're afraid of actually take place. You may notice that the scenarios you fear usually don't happen.

When embarrassing situations do happen, remind yourself that your feelings will pass, and you can handle them until they do.

Yoga and other mind-body relaxation practices also may reduce anxiety and help you face situations that make you feel nervous.

Remember, it's never too late to develop new friendships or reconnect with old friends. Investing time in making friends and strengthening your friendships can pay off in better health and a brighter outlook for years to come.

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Show references

1. Holt-Lunstad J. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors: The power of social connection in prevention. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 2021; doi: 10.1177/15598276211009454.

2. Loneliness and social isolation - tips for staying connected. National Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/loneliness-and-social-isolation-tips-staying-connected. Accessed Dec. 16, 2021.

3. Bystritsky A. Complementary and alternative treatments for anxiety symptoms and disorders: Physical, cognitive, and spiritual interventions. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 16, 2021.

4. Oshio T, et al. Association between the use of social networking sites, perceived social support, and life satisfaction: Evidence from a population-based survey in Japan. PLoS One. 2020; doi: 10/1371/journal.pone.0244199.

5. Wilkinson A, et al. Maintenance and development of social connection by people with long-term conditions: A qualitative study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; doi:10.3390/ijerph16111875.

6. Suragarn U, et al. Approaches to enhance social connection in older adults: An integrative review of literature. Aging and Health Research. 2021; doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahr.2021.100029.

7. Holt-Lunstad J. The major health implications of social connection. Current Directions in Psychological Science. 2021; doi: 10.1177/0963721421999630.

See more In-depth

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Friendships can have a major impact on your health and well-being. Follow these tips to make and sustain lasting friendships.

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explanation:

Academic pressure will cause the child to have high stress level and anxiety. This will also cause the child to worry, and invoke a constant fear of not doing well enough. The fear constant presence of the fear can and will hinder performances in the children.

reference link:

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There's a fine line between being a good parent capable of stimulating kids to be achievers and taking things too far. Studies show that crossing the line can have severe consequences for young individuals.

Singapore's educational system is known for its quality and the fact that students acquire tons of knowledge and a high level of competence. In 2016, Singapore ranked first in science and math among all countries participating in an Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development survey. Standards are high and parents also tend to be quite demanding when it comes to good grades and academic excellence.

Parents have high expectations to the point of giving their children performance anxiety in school. This is one of the reasons why reports suggest Singaporean kids as young as eight could be contemplating suicide.

Mental health experts believe that unrealistic parental expectations could affect the cognitive and emotional development of children. Singapore psychiatrists, psychologists and child counselling experts aren't alone in this belief. New studies show just how detrimental the parental push for high grades could be.

What Academic Pressure Does to a Child's Psyche

In 2016, Arizona State University researchers carried out an interesting clinical trial that demonstrated too much pressure when it comes to good grades is simply wrong.

Parents who put too much focus on grades and extracurricular activities are minimising the importance of social skills and compassion. Thus, they could actually be contributing to their children's failure when it comes to being well-adjusted individuals and contributing members of society.

When parents are solely interested in good grades during the formative years of children, they're causing high stress levels and anxiety. The study has proven that teaching children kindness and compassion helps them perform better in school and increases their academic achievements.

The results of the study were presented in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence. Researchers worked with 506 sixth grade students who were asked to determine what their parents valued the most about them. School performance was also assessed. The kids that performed the best were the ones whose parents seemed to value kindness much more than high grades.

Excessive Academic Pressure is Harmful

Singapore mental health clinic see multiple cases in which children are failing to adjust or they're experiencing social problems because parents put them under too much stress.

Today's society is putting a lot of pressure on success. Kids are in a constant state of competition -for good grades, for sports achievement, for entering the right high school or college. As academic pressure increases, psychological health deteriorates.

The values that children perceive their parents to have play a key role in the individual development of every kid. Their priorities and even personal beliefs are shaped up by what parents see as the most crucial things in life.

Academic parental pressure will only make kids worry. When they get a high grade on a test, they will worry about the next one or that someone has gotten an even higher grade. If the grade isn't the top one, kids will be left with the feeling that they're just not good enough.

Being paralysed by such fear will hinder performance in even the most talented of children.

Eventually, the stress and the feeling that they aren't the best they could be may lead to bad behaviour. Too much pressure will make kids attempt to get good grades through any means. They may cheat, they may turn to drugs and the relationships with classmates will be affected in a negative way.

How to Encourage Children and to Make Learning Fun

Psychologists believe that parental encouragement is essential for helping a child unleash their full potential. Not being involved at all is as bad as pushing children too far.

So, what is the best way to stimulate children to be achievers without crossing the proverbial thin line?

Constant non-constructive criticism is a big no-no. when failure occurs (an inevitable part of life!), parents should help children understand what went wrong and what could be done to improve the situation the next time around. Otherwise, young individuals will feel shame and fear about failing, they could refrain from communicating with their parents and the anxiety will eventually grow into depression or a behavioural problem.

As a parent, you should focus on the importance of learning new things rather than getting good grades. Children should be hungry for the acquisition of knowledge, especially in an academic area that they enjoy. The knowledge itself rather than the manner in which progress is being scored should be prioritised.

Finally, the importance of kindness and compassion have already been raised via the clinical study. These are the skills that should matter the most and not success at any cost. A win-it-all attitude (through any means) will eventually backfire and it's not a healthy pedagogic methodology during those important formative years.

Every parent should lead by example. Words should be backed up by actions, attitude towards others and adherence to the rules when it comes to getting a positive outcome.

If a child is already too stressed out and anxious about going to school and getting graded, professional assistance will be the best option to seek. Psychologists and psychiatrists who work with children know how to address the situation and discover the contributing factors. Once the problem has been established, the family will start learning how to communicate better and set healthy goals in the long run.

Are you concerned about your child? Are they acting out or being anti-social? We can help you understand what's going on and whether your parenting style could be contributing to the problem. At Adelphi Psych Medicine Clinic - Psychiatrists and Psychologists for Mental Health in Singapore, we adopt a holistic approach towards depression treatment and child counselling. The Adelphi Families and Youth Centre offers multi-disciplinary therapies that improve the communication and the dynamics among all family members.

Don't hesitate to contact us today and let us know a bit more about what your family is going through. Schedule your first consultation and we'll help you get to the roots of the issue.
Article by Adelphi Psych Medicine Clinic

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Pressure For High Grades: The Damage Parents Could Be Causing Kids | Adelphi Psych Med

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There's a fine line between stimulating kids to be achievers and taking things too far. Studies show that crossing the line can have severe consequences.

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With a pandemic going on, a lockdown may happen. In person social interactions will not be able to happen, resulting in loneliness, lack of support, causing mental health like anxiety and depression to form. With a pandemic happening, people will have another thing to worry about. Some may overthink, causing an overload of stress, causing mental health like anxiety and depression to form. Some illness caused by the pandemic can also cause mental health issues like depression, anxiety or PTSD after getting infected.

reference link:

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Both SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly affected the mental health of adults and children. In a 2021 study, nearly half of Americans surveyed reported recent symptoms of an anxiety or depressive disorder, and 10% of respondents felt their mental health needs were not being met.…

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Economic instability can cause many things to be affected. Economic instability of countries can affect the economic stability of residents, affecting their families. With economic instability, residents will start stressing out due to the lack of income. Affecting mental health, causing depression to form.

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Social media can cause political instability. This can be caused by multiple factors like miscommunication or misinformation. Political instability will cause fear and insecurity in individuals, affecting their thoughts and affecting their mental health. Being able to cause mental health issues like anxiety and depression.