Community approach best way to break down stigma of
mental illness
By Hoe Yeen Nie | Posted: 02
April 2010 1832 hrs
SINGAPORE : A clinic specialising in psychiatric services
has opened in Ang Mo Kio.
It is the third such clinic in the heartlands.
Experts said that using a community approach will help break down
the stigma of mental illness.
The Nobel Psychological Wellness Clinic is located in a busy
neighbourhood in Ang Mo Kio.
The name does not suggest psychiatric care, but this is what the
clinic provides.
Inside, muted furnishings remind one of a spa. The waiting area of
the clinic is quite small, and appointments are scheduled so that
patients do not bump into one another.
In a society where the stigma of mental is still quite strong, and
given the fact that the clinic is located within a housing estate,
the sensitivity to patients' privacy is quite important.
The clinic has seen about 120 patients since opening in
January.
About half of patients here have referrals from neighbourhood
doctors, while the rest are walk-ins.
The clinic said this is a sign that people are more willing to seek
help for mental issues.
The most common cases seen at the clinic are depression, stress and
anxiety, as well as issues related to adjustment difficulties. The
clinic also sees patients who come for help in coping with
grief.
Dr Marcus Tan, medical director, Nobel Psychological Wellness
Clinic, said: "Seeing a psychiatrist does not necessarily mean that
person has a major mental disorder. More often than not, a large
proportion of my patients are stressed because of relationship
issues, or because of problems they encounter in daily life."
Another psychiatric clinic in the heartlands, located at
Queenstown, is managed by the Institute of Mental Health
(IMH).
Patient numbers here are higher - about 2,000 each month, and
include patients with more severe psychiatric ailments.
The Community Wellness Centre is located in the same building as a
SingHealth polyclinic, so patients are less self-conscious about
entering. Dr Lee Cheng, the chief of the Department of Community
Psychiatry at IMH, added that calling it a "Community Wellness
Centre" helps to draw attention away from any negative associations
with psychiatric care.
The IMH also operates another community clinic in Geylang, and one
on its premises at Buangkok.
The Geylang Behavioural Medicine Clinic sees about 1,300 patients
each month.
Being in the heartlands means the clinic is able to work closer
with GPs and family service centres.
It also regularly conducts talks to raise awareness of mental
illnesses.
Despite outreach efforts, the centre said its presence still raises
concerns.
Dr Lee Cheng said: "In a community for example, when the public
gets to know that there may be patients with chronic mental
disorders like maybe delusional disorders and schizophrenia, and
they are coming to the clinic, they think whether these people are
safe, will they pose a danger to society?"
Another concern is that some patients also suffer from alcohol or
drug addictions, and could turn abusive against staff and
residents. But Dr Lee stresses that only patients who are deemed
stable by IMH doctors are allowed to be discharged.
Dr Lee Cheng said that so far, the centre has not received
complaints from nearby residents in the two years it has been
open.
He believes that the most effective way to treat mental illness is
through the community, and said that this way, both the psychiatric
and medical needs of the patient can be addressed. -
CNA/ms
