The Covid-19 outbreak has clearly taken a toll on our mental health.
With all the job losses, confinement, and health fears around at the moment, it’s no wonder that many Singaporeans are feeling stressed out.
According to CNA, organisations like Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and Fei Yue Community Services have seen a surge in distress calls in the last month.
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While some may be able to deal with their psychological issues, others may resort to drastic means to end their pain.
Woman Who Stood on Ledge of Yishun HDB Rescued & Arrested under the Mental Health Act
A 59-year-old woman was recorded on camera standing on a ledge of Block 805 Yishun Ring Road on Wednesday afternoon (10 June).
A video of the incident was uploaded to Facebook.
In the video, the woman is seen standing on a ledge between the 11th and 12th storeys of the block. Both her feet are jutting out over the ledge, so it looks like she can fall at any time.
On the ground, SCDF personnel can be seen preparing an air cushion, but police officers managed to pull the lady off the ledge to safety before it was deployed.
According to Stomp, the police said the 59-year-old woman was arrested under the Mental Health Act.
Arrested? Why was she arrested?
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Well, it’s not what you think.
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Mental Health Act
The Mental Health Act was passed in 2008 to “regulate the involuntary detention of a person in a psychiatric institution for the treatment of a mental disorder, or in the interest of the health and safety of the person or the persons around him.”
This allows a person who is deemed to be suffering from a mental disorder to be admitted to a psychiatric institution.
They may be detained for up to 72 hours.
So, the police didn’t arrest the woman because she broke the law, but so she could seek psychological help.
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Ways to Beat Cabin Fever
With the coronavirus keeping most of us in our homes, residents are bound to feel stressed, after months of being cooped up.
This is called Cabin Fever.
Cabin fever refers to a distressing claustrophobic irritability, restlessness, or sense of isolation experienced when a person is stuck at an isolated location or in confined quarters for an extended period of time.
Symptoms include restlessness, decreased motivation, hopelessness, persistent sadness, and irregular sleep patterns.
While there’s no standard treatment for this, there are a few ways you can cope with these new feelings.
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- Maintain a social life – connecting with friends and family online can help you combat feelings of isolation and loneliness
- Exercise – research has shown that people who exercise regularly are less prone to anxiety than people who don’t exercise, because exercise lowers stress hormones, such as cortisol
- Escapism – getting lost in an engaging book or film can provide enjoyment and pleasure, but they can also make you forget about your current situation.
- Avoiding Conflict – try to avoid conflict if you live with other people because this will only amplify the negative effects of confinement
Genuine mental health issues are a serious thing, though.
If you or someone you know needs help, there are several hotlines which you can call:
National CARE Hotline: 6202-6868
Samaritans of Singapore: 1800-221-4444
Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
Institute of Mental Health’s Mobile Crisis Service: 6389-2222
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Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800
At such a trying time, we have to remind ourselves that we are not alone, no matter how bad it gets. There are always going to be people out there who are willing to help us get through such tough periods.
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