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1 in 3 adolescents report depression, anxiety but only 10% of parents can spot mental health issues: NUS-led study NUS and its research partners did a survey to "understand and establish” the mental health and resilience of adolescents here About one in three of the youth reported mental health symptoms such as depression, anxiety and loneliness This was more serious among those aged 14 to 16 It also found that only around one in 10 parents were able to identify "clinical-level mental health symptoms" in their children The survey's lead researcher said the results will help inform and guide the planning of prevention and treatment services here, especially for those at risk https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/1-3-adolescents-depression-anxiety-only-1-10-parents-spot-symptoms-2159106

Joker's out!.. in order not to spoil the movie for those who havent watch yet... there will nt be any spoilers here. there's been so many variations of the Joker, with the late Heath Ledger's portrayal by far the most iconic, till enter Joker 2019 by Joaquin Phoenix. Wad makes this Joker so different from the rest of the Joker? People are comparing between the two but you can't really compare the 2 legends. Heath's acted as the joker throughout the movie whereas Phoenix's one showed him as a normal man with a mental illness and how he slowly turned into a madman.. in the little time that he became the joker,man it was chilling I was shell-shocked as the end credits rolled on 'Joker'. But not just for the reasons you might expect. Yes, the violence, when it eventually comes, is shocking. And yes, Joaquin Phoenix’s performance is a masterful gut-punch. No, it was the dawning that the makers of Joker had managed to Trojan horse a movie ostensibly about mental illness and pass it off as a studio comic book movie -- and a potently powerful one at that. That fact is sadly being lost among the feverish controversy surrounding the film’s violence. From the offset, Joker is a discombobulating experience. This is a most atypical of comic book movies: no flurry of CGI, no orgy of action, no Joker falling into a vat of bubbling acid to emerge with grand plans to watch Gotham City burn. What writer/director Todd Phillips and Phoenix give us is a gritty, edgy psychological thriller set in a Gotham reminiscent of grimy New City, circa 1981. It charts the descent of Arthur Fleck (Phoenix), a mentally ill aspiring comedian maligned by society, into the Clown Prince of Crime in a vehicle best described as Taxi Driver meets The King of Comedy, two major Martin Scorsese films that heavily influenced Phillips’ vision. And this is not the Joker of old, the “criminally insane” “inmate” of Arkham Asylum. No, this is cold-hard-reality mental illness. Though never clearly defined, severe depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are two afflictions for Arthur in an alienated existence as a rent-a-clown by day and carer for his ailing mother (Frances Conroy) by night. He feels unseen, unheard. He craves validation, adulation, love. His bony frame -- Phoenix lost more than 23kg for the role -- perhaps a metaphor for that hunger. He also suffers a humiliating and real condition called Pseudobulbar affect , uncontrollable episodes of laughing or crying at inappropriate times. What surprised me was how bluntly honest Joker is about mental health, not just for a comic book vehicle, but a mainstream Hollywood movie. Anyone who has had a prolonged mental illness, as I have, will likely find some of Arthur’s experiences relatable. He laments having to attempt to hide his mental illness to be socially acceptable, writing in his therapy diary/joke book; “The worst part about having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don’t.” In voicing the pointlessness of his mandated sessions with a social worker where he’s asked the same questions but never really heard, he reveals a sobering truth for anyone who has had severe depression: “All I have are negative thoughts.” At another moment, another heartbreaking statement that rings true: “I just don’t want to feel so bad anymore.” His mother may have given him the moniker ‘Happy’ but it’s something he’s never really felt. Joker shows us the unvarnished human side of this villain-to-be, a man who has been institutionalised and released with minimal support, only to be told the city is cutting back on mental health services and he’s on his own.

Dear all, how do one persuade someone close to you to seek medical help for signs of depression? I've noticed some changes in this person's behaviour and think its good to seek help early but don't wish to hurt or agitate that person by telling him/her to seek psychiatric help. Some of the things mentioned by this person includes; 1) Talking about suicides 2) Referring to suicide articles and saying he/she will do the same 3) Out of the blue saying things like: "Don't push me or I will jump and let you see" 4) Become very emo all of the sudden 5) Look very lost and helpless when alone 6) Starting to depend on everyone for his/her needs as if we should spoonfeed him/her. With those said, its very surprising as this person do not mention all these things at all previously but seems to talk about it every now and then, even when no one agitates him/her. An example is when we went out for dinner. Halfway through the dinner, he/she will say something like: "You all better don't push me to my limits or I will jump". Its really out of the blue when everyone is just eating and not saying anything that will trigger this kind of reaction. Hope to get some advice from all of you on how to persuade or bring this person to seek medical help.

I agree with this report. Notice how internet forums are full of insufferable people who get angry over minor issues?

Last yeat about the same time, I posted about my friend's dad is very ill, then the mum afraid to take care of him, to move or not to move to new home... then hired a maid to take care of the sick dad, and then moved to new home, dad passed away, mum try to get rid of the maid....etc etc... Now, another problem. The mum seems to be a bit lonely and depress. She told me she can't sleep properly at night because she's scared and day time she is afraid of going home (hubby died at home almost a year ago). She work in the morning and usually home by 2pm. She always need her younger son (early 20) to be at home after work to accompany her. The elder son, my friend, is not staying together due to work travel distance. But weekend he will stay with them so the brother can go out with his friends at night. Sometimes, when my friend reached home, them mum will not be at home because she will sit at the kopitiam until someone comes home. Both of them can't probably be at home all the time to accompany her. The younger son had just enrolled in a part time study and when that takes place, he will be home even late, then what will happen to her? Maybe she still not get used to being alone after the hubby passed away. Maybe she still not get used to sleep alone in the room. Last time they stay in a 2room flat and they used to all sleep together in the small living hall. Now suddenly the house is so big and the surrounding is so quiet (Punggol) compare to city area where they used to stay. We dunno how to tackle this problems and afraid the mum will go into depression and worst, if schizophrenia develops. Anyone been through such problem before?

Yesterday sent my maid to the airport. No more maids to help with the house work. Suddenly knowing the fact, made me weep and cry. Or was it something else? I don't know it's because I miss my maid, or the fact that I have to start doing housework. Or a wave of pasts unhappy things just overwhelmed me suddenly. Like a sense of panic during school days exam period, or first day go army, break off with GF, seeing GF kissing another man, death of a lose family member....... Of course the 9/11 events on the TV also brought back many past memories of relationships and unhappy work experiences, and other matters. So I cried the whole night...more like weeping with tears. I have aa happy family, nice stable work, good health, and relationship with friends and colleagues are good. So there is no recent events that can evoke such sadness in me, that I can think of. I just don't known why suddenly I am so emotional, red wailing eyes, nose blocked, etc. I don't dabble in shares lately, so cannot be the uncertainty of losing $$$ on shares. I don't love my maid, that is why I sent her back. So no emotional baggage. Do I need to spend money to see a psycharitic? Or just have a good lunch today? The sense of lost, helpless, useless, sadness in me is still strong as I write this. I don't have urge to go kill myself or do foolish things. Perhaps I just need a listening ears....or a good holiday. Not sure why I felt this way since yesterday morning. I have no idea when it will go away. Are such feelings common to anyone of you? Am I sick or really need a councellor or mental doctor.

After knowing what food you crave for will affect your health, now the job that you do that likely to cause depression

anyone with sign of the above after the long break?