Let's Talk About Our Mental Health

It seems like everyone and their mother is talking about mental health these days - but for many of us, vocalising our struggles remains a challenge. Why can't we just open up?

- Adora Wong

HER WORLD'S WHAT WOMEN WANT 2022 SURVEY

Over 6,000 women responded to our survey on health and wellness, which was run in collaboration with consumer research and analytics firm Milieu Insight. This series highlights key areas that readers are most interested in.

Many local celebrities have, in recent years, opened up about their mental health struggles publicly. Among them are actresses Jeanette Aw and Michelle Chong, who have shared their experiences battling depression, as well as personalities like Munah Bagharib and Hanli Hoefer, who have discussed their anxiety-related struggles on social media. Even business leaders such Piyush Gupta, CEO of DBS Group, and Chng Kai Fong, former managing director of the Economic Development Board, have opened up about their mental issues.

But when we were compiling the Her World Health and Wellness Report 2022 - where we surveyed over 6,000 women in Singapore - 51 per cent of respondents said that they would rather solve their own problems before asking for help. And as highlighted by an October 2020 article by The Straits Times, a survey by communications consultancy Sandpiper Communications found that most young people are still uncomfortable discussing their mental health, despite increased stress from the Covid-19 pandemic.

If public figures among us have normalised talking about their mental health, why are most of us still uncomfortable discussing these issues?

STIGMAS ARE STILL PREVALENT

As it turns out, while an increasing number of people are open to sharing their experiences, the stigmas attached to mental health conditions are still prevalent, and the public perception of mental health issues still has a long way to go.