Mental health has become an increasingly prominent issue among young people in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic with many of them having to face unprecedented levels of stress brought about by school, social media and other societal pressures. We speak to Tiang Shu Hui, a Clinical Psychologist at the Psychological Service Unit (PSU) under AMKFSC Community Services to learn more about how youths can take important steps to improve their well-being.

Could you tell us more about the work that you do at PSU?

At PSU, we conduct psychotherapy with children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 years old who have been referred to us for issues like mood and anxiety difficulties, emotional and behavioural dysregulation, and trauma-related issues.

As part of PSU’s support and monitoring efforts, we work closely with partners involved in the care of our clients, including their parents, social workers, teachers, and school counsellors. To increase awareness about managing mental health, our team of psychologists also conduct internal and external trainings and workshops.

About one in three youths in Singapore have reported mental health symptoms according to a nationwide survey by Youth Epidemiology and Resilience Study. What do you think are some of the prevailing issues impacting youths in Singapore?

Youths navigate through several major life transitions in a short span of time, including moving on from formal schooling to tertiary education, enrolling in national service, starting a first job, and taking on caregiving responsibilities. Such transitions can be extremely stressful and demanding, which overwhelms their capacity to cope. This is coupled with other life stressors, which include (but are not limited to) peer and romantic relationship issues, academic pressures, parental expectations, and bullying or discrimination.

Excessive consumption of social media has been associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Social media presents more avenues for social comparisons and can contribute to the development of unhealthy expectations, body image concerns, and unrealistic beliefs about others and their life. In the same vein, social media use may expose one to cyberbullying and online harassment, which can be traumatising and emotionally distressing.

A key developmental stage in the transition from childhood to adulthood is theexploration and formation of one’s identity, where youths discover who they are and how they relate to others. Important aspects of a youth’s identity include sexual orientation and gender identity. For some, the process of understanding and expressing one’s sexual orientation and gender identity can be experienced as confusing or rejecting, which can affect one’s sense of self and mental well-being.

Youths often find it challenging to seek help for mental health issues due to the social stigma associated with it. What can we as a society do to overcome this?

Getting help for one’s mental health difficulties is a sign of strength and courage. It is not an easy first step to take, but once taken, it can be empowering and can bring us closer to growth and recovery. One can start by reaching out to a trusted adult or mentor who can provide a listening ear and lend the right assistance in seeking professional support. The good news is that with evidence-based treatments available, people do get better with appropriate and timely support.

As a society, we need to normalise help-seeking. Movements and campaigns such as ‘Beyond the Label’ started by the National Council of Social Service and ‘It’s OKAY to Reach Out’ by Health Promotion Board strive to raise awareness of mental health, reduce stigma, and encourage help-seeking. We can do our part by educating ourselves about mental health, showing empathy towards those who may be struggling as well as being compassionate and kind in our actions and speech surrounding mental health. Remember that we eachhave a role to play in someone’s journey towards recovery.

Getting help for one’s mental health issues

Could you tell us more about the role AMKFSC Community Services plays in supporting young people who face mental health challenges?

AMKFSC is committed to supporting individuals facing mental health difficulties by providing coordinated upstream and downstream services for individuals and their families. Apart from the psychological services provided at PSU, our Family Service Centres work closely with families who may have children facing distress, while targeted programmes are provided to them through our youth and mental health specialist services.

Youth Infinity, AMKFSC’s youth work service, works with youths and their families to support them in overcoming challenges such as relationship and behavioural issues, as well as mental health difficulties. Youths who may be at risk are engaged through interest driven programmes, such as dance, sports, meditation, and general hangout sessions, to harness their potential as well as build healthy support networks.

MindCare is a community mental health service that aims to promote mental health resilience among individuals aged 18 and beyond by conducting assessment and screening for mental health issues, making referrals to mental health services, and providing case management, counselling and caregiver support. The team also collaborates with various organisations and community partners to organise talks and trainings on mental health awareness and preventive education.

What advice would you give to youths to help them cope better with issues that affect their mental health?

Your emotions are valid, and you are not alone in your journey. It is challenging to navigate through life at times, and that does not mean there is something wrong with you. Do reach out to someone you trust, are comfortable around, and feel supported by. You are never alone, there are people and resources available to journey with you.

How can young people better support their peers who face mental health issues?

It is normal to feel overwhelmed and helpless when we see friends or family members struggling with their mental health. You may wish to consider the following mnemonic:

(L) Listen to them and be fully present without distractions, to let them know you are here with them.

(O) Offer support and provide comfort. Refrain from being too quick to give advice or jump to conclusions as this may come across as invalidating. It may be helpful to check in with them on the kind of support they might need.

(V) Validate their feelings and experiences. Take what they share seriously and avoid being dismissive. Strive to empathise, adopt a non-judgemental stance, and emulate how you would like to be supported when you are struggling.

(E) Encourage them to speak to a trusted adult or seek professional help if needed.

(U) Understand and accept that there will be limits to what we can do for our peers. Nonetheless, take heart that your presence and support is making a difference to them.

(S) Show care for yourself too. Seek the support you might need so that you can continue to support others.