Institute of Mental Health

We love this mental wellness tip from CEO of IMH, A/Prof Daniel Fung! 🌿💚 No matter how busy we are, taking a few seconds to care for ourselves is essential. This World Mental Health Day, let's go beyond those brief moments and make a lasting impact. Add your name to our pledge wall and stand together for mental health: for.sg/imh-pledge #StandTogetherForMentalHealth #10SecondsChallenge

The second Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) study conducted by IMH found that the prevalence of dementia among older adults aged 60 and above in Singapore has dropped to one in 11 people, from one in 10 about a decade ago. Click to read the ST article:

The second Well-Being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) study, led by IMH, saw a decrease in the prevalence of dementia among adults aged 60 years and above. It dropped from 10% (1 in 10 persons) in 2013 to 8.8% (1 in 11 persons) in 2023. The study also examined risk factors associated with dementia, treatment gap of dementia and the burden on caregivers. IMH initiated this nationwide cross-sectional study to track changing trends in the prevalence of dementia among older adults in Singapore since the first landmark study in 2013. Comparing the characteristics of the population across the two WiSE studies, researchers at IMH observed that more older adults in Singapore were employed and had higher education in 2023 as compared to 2013. “General preventive efforts, such as improved education, employment, healthier diet and lifestyle, as well as more targeted interventions like prevention of stroke and early rehabilitation of stroke patients could have lowered the dementia prevalence,” says Dr Mythily Subramaniam, Assistant Chairman, Medical Board (Research), IMH and co-investigator of this study. Read the press release here: https://lnkd.in/dN2TZWfd

Debra Low (@debbblow on Instagram), a mental health advocate with IMH, blends her love for animals and art in this quick video to remind us to be gentle and kind with ourselves. 🌸 On 10.10 this World Mental Health Day, let’s stand together for mental health and celebrate moments of self-care and compassion with intent and purpose. 💚 Join us in making a lasting impact - add your name to our pledge wall and stand together for mental health: for.sg/imh-pledge #standtogetherformentalhealth #10secondschallenge

Since its inception in October 2022, about 41 clients have attended or are currently attending the Snap! programme at OcTAVE (Occupational Therapy: Activities, Vocation and Empowerment) Outpatient Rehabilitation Centre in IMH. Occupational therapists run the Snap! workshop on handphone-photography to help clients recovering from mental health conditions such as psychotic disorders, mood disorders and developmental disorders learn basic principles and tools of photography. Through photography, clients also explore self-expression in creative ways, see things from a different perspective and reflect on qualities of patience and recovery. During the sessions, occupational therapists also assess clients for work skills and cognition. "Some clients go on to explore photography on their own, as it has given them an opportunity for self-reflection and expression. Others start to display more confidence in themselves and have progressed on to vocational training, school and work," said occupational therapist Yu Man Ni. 📸 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄𝙣 𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 is a photo series created by Abdullah Alsakaff that features his recovery journey. The exhibition is now available at Clinic B's glass showcase.  #CelebrateRecovery #MentalHealthMatters #WorldPhotographyDay

In honor of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, we’re aiming to create a record-breaking wall of 1,000 pledges for mental health! 🌟 Add your voice by pledging support at for.sg/imh-pledge and stand a chance to win attractive prizes! Let’s come together to support those in mental health recovery, caregivers, healthcare workers, and our entire community. Join us in breaking the stigma and promoting mental well-being. Every pledge counts! 💚 #StandTogetherForMentalHealth #WMHD #WorldMentalHealthDay

S2E2 Psychotherapy For First-Timers is now out on Youtube and Spotify! ✨ Therapy is a powerful tool for personal growth and healing, but it’s important to approach it with the right expectations. Some people expect instant miracles, while others worry it won’t make a difference. In this new episode of Mindful Dialogues, we are joined by Associate Psychologist Nastasia Tang to talk about Psychotherapy For First-Timers. Let's dive in! Listen now. Youtube: https://lnkd.in/g3C6rrwq Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gNUx8F8T #MindfulDialogues #IMHPodcast #Psychotherapy #MentalHealth

🌟 "Little things count. Small habits over time become everything." This World Photography Day, Abdullah Alsakaff reflects on his recovery journey, sharing how shifting his perspective and picking up new skills for his mental health helped him grow to be more resilient. Abdullah first sought help at IMH when work stress and family dynamics became overwhelming. The turning point came when he realised he couldn’t cope with appetite fluctuations, mood changes and sleepless nights on his own. During his recovery, Abdullah discovered photography through occupational therapy at IMH. What began as a hobby evolved into a powerful way to share his journey, inspire others, and stay resilient. Celebrate the beauty of photography and resilience—visit Abdullah’s exhibition at Clinic B! 📸✨ #WorldPhotographyDay #MentalHealthJourney #ResilienceThroughArt

Caring for an elderly loved one with dementia can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when there is a lack of understanding of certain behaviours such as refusing to shower, reversed sleep-patterns and agitation. The app, Play2Care, was released last month by IMH and Taggle to help caregivers better understand common challenging behaviour associated with dementia and manage them by communicating more effectively with their loved ones. "While we can offer medical advice and treatment, there has to be a more creative way to impart communication techniques that caregivers can apply in their day-to-day routines to alleviate stress," said Dr Yao Feng yuan, Senior Consultant and Chief, Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, IMH. The Play2Care app was developed following clinical observations by Dr Yao Fengyuan and his Geriatric Psychiatry team, where they identified five common behavioural issues that caregivers struggle to cope with. Look out for upcoming posts next month outlining the give main challenges associated with dementia caregiving. In the meantime, try out Play2Care on Apple: https://lnkd.in/geEadsdb or Google Play Store: https://lnkd.in/gHpn-HCs #Dementia #Play2Care

🌿🌸 Vote for the IMH entry in the Community Choice Award by selecting SGC 02 - Neon Biodiver(city) when you visit https://lnkd.in/gWbgDYc6  Voters stand a chance to win a two-night stay at Pan Pacific Singapore. Your support matters! Cast your vote before Wed, 7 August, 10pm. ___ We're thrilled to announce that IMH has won the Gold award in our first foray into the Singapore Garden Festival (Gardener's Cup)! The Singapore Gardener's Cup is a competition held as part of the Singapore Garden Festival, organised by National Parks Board. IMH is part of a team that also included community gardeners and partners from the Central District of Singapore. Our winning entry "Neon Biodiver(city)" is a captivating diorama of a futuristic city pulsating with life, showcasing pocket habitats inspired by urban riverine, grassland, mangrove, coastal, and forest ecosystems. In this meaningful endeavour, our clients – both inpatients and outpatients – and the GSO team worked collectively and tirelessly to bring the design to life. The collective efforts and passion for gardening is instrumental in our success, making the gold award even more significant. This achievement also underscores the therapeutic and empowering aspects of gardening for our clients.