SINGAPORE – Mental disorders are now the leading cause of disability and death among Singaporeans aged 10 to 14, according to a study published in Lancet Public Health on May 28. The paper also revealed that the impact of mental distress on public health in Singapore is the highest in ASEAN.
In 2021, nearly 13% of males and 11.7% of females in Singapore were diagnosed with mental disorders. The total number of diagnoses that year reached 653,000, which includes a significant rise in cases among those over 70, with a threefold increase since 1990.
Anxiety and depression, largely triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, were the most common mental health issues. The study reported that around 185,000 individuals suffered from anxiety, while 144,000 struggled with depression.
This research is part of a broader examination of Southeast Asia’s public health challenges, covering mental disorders, cardiovascular diseases, smoking, and injuries. It is part of the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, a global project assessing health trends worldwide.
The study marks the first collaboration between the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), which leads the GBD study.
Rising Mental Health Burden on Youth
Lead author Dr. Marie Ng, an associate professor at NUS Medicine and IHME, explained that the rise in mental health issues among young people is linked to the pressures of social media and academic stress. She also pointed to the growing prevalence of family breakdowns and social isolation in more developed and Westernized societies.
The paper also highlights the rising mental health issues among older adults, particularly as the population ages. Dr. Ng emphasized that mental and physical health are closely connected, noting that depression is common among the elderly as they face deteriorating physical health.
The Covid-19 pandemic, which caused widespread uncertainty and anxiety, exacerbated mental health struggles across all age groups. However, Dr. Ng noted that greater public awareness and decreasing stigma have encouraged more individuals to seek help for mental health issues.
Self-Harm and Injury Deaths
Self-harm remains a leading cause of injury deaths in Singapore, responsible for 47% of all injury-related fatalities. The highest incidence rate is seen among youth aged 20 to 24. The paper also reported that more females than males in Singapore engaged in self-harm in 2021. However, the incidence rate in Singapore is still lower than that of neighboring high-income Asian nations, such as Japan and South Korea.
Falls were the second leading cause of injury death in Singapore, contributing to 22% of all injury-related fatalities. Globally, the leading causes of injury deaths are road injuries, falls, self-harm, drowning, and interpersonal violence. In ASEAN countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, and Vietnam, self-harm is also among the top three causes of injury-related mortality.
Cardiovascular Disease: A Persistent Issue
While Singapore boasts the lowest prevalence and mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in ASEAN, the condition remains a major health concern. CVD is the second-leading cause of death in Singapore, and the number of cases has surged by nearly 200% over the past three decades. In 2021, over 385,000 people were affected by CVD.
Risk factors contributing to CVD include high blood pressure, poor diet, high LDL cholesterol, high blood sugar, and tobacco use. Obesity, particularly, is the fastest-growing risk factor in the country.
Smoking and Health Challenges
Singapore’s smoking prevalence among males aged 15 and above is 20.2%, significantly lower than the ASEAN average of 48.4%. However, among females, the smoking rate stands at 6.56%, higher than the regional female average of 4.47%. This puts Singapore fourth in smoking prevalence among women in the region.
Dr. Ng commented, “The findings present a nuanced picture of Singapore’s health progress. While we’ve made significant strides in areas like cardiovascular care and tobacco control, the growing burden of mental health conditions and injuries, particularly self-harm and falls, calls for urgent attention.”
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