Debated in Parliament on 6 Jan 2020.
Assoc Prof Walter Theseira asked the Minister for Health in the last three years, what are the demographics of patients receiving psychiatric treatment and mental health support at the Institute of Mental Health, polyclinics, Specialist Outpatient Clinics at restructured hospitals and under Government-funded programmes, such as the Assessment and Shared Care Team (ASCAT), Community Resource Engagement and Support Team (CREST) and Community Intervention Team (COMIT), respectively, broken down by (i) number of patients (ii) duration of inpatient stay or treatment length (iii) types of mental health condition (iv) age (v) income and (vi) time taken between onset of symptoms and treatment.
The five most common mental health conditions that were seen at public hospitals were schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and substance abuse. At the polyclinics, depression, anxiety and insomnia were the three most common mental health conditions. Schizophrenia and depression were also common mental health conditions receiving service from the community intervention teams funded under MOH.
For the whole public healthcare system, the average age of subsidised patients for the different mental health conditions seen was between 40 to 50 years old1. MOH does not track data on income nor time taken between onset of symptoms and treatment as the patient might have seen providers outside the public healthcare system. However, based on the Singapore Mental Health Study (2016)2, a self-reported survey, the median time taken between the onset of symptoms and seeking help is 11 years for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD); four years for bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse, two years for Generalised Anxiety Disorder and one year for Major Depressive Disorder. Stigma and lack of mental health literacy may be contributory factors to the delay.
There are various initiatives by the Government, as well as healthcare and community providers to proactively reach out to raise awareness of mental conditions and provide information on avenues to seek help, facilitate early identification and access to interventions. We have community outreach teams to educate the public on mental health conditions and dementia, and refer those with such conditions to the appropriate health and/ or social services. We have also increased access to mental health and or dementia services in 12 polyclinics.
Over the last three years (2016 to 2018), the average number of subsidised patients who received inpatient treatment for mental health conditions was about 6,900 per year, with an average length of stay (ALOS) of 21 days per admission. The average number of subsidised patients seen as outpatients for mental disorders was about 60,000 per year.
MOH will continue to work with public hospitals and service providers in the community, including schools, social service agencies and family service centres, to provide holistic support for all persons with mental healthcare needs and to ensure timely access to quality care and support.
PAPERCUTS