Vasantham (Mediacorp’s Tamil & Hindi TV Channel) studios reached out to Promises Healthcare’s Senior Clinical Psychologist, S C Anbarasu, in the name of bringing greater mental health awareness to the Indian community in Singapore.
S C Anbarasu shared on the En Ullae episode on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which featured an actor playing the role of Bala, a well-educated 29-year-old man who struggled with the disorder, bringing his mother to exasperation at times – because as an outsider looking in, she simply wasn’t equipped to understand the condition. Kartik Anand, a social worker who has dabbled in theatre, retold his very personal conception and experience of living with the disorder, albeit with a great deal calmer than “Bala”. The two narratives played off each other, the contrast in each man’s tone and manner starkly laying out the case for sensible treatment. OCD, according to Anbarasu, is a condition that is treatable – with medication and/or therapy. This, he let on at the close of the episode, as a rather stirring montage of Kartik’s achievements on the stage served to remind viewers the uncharitableness of stigmatising people suffering from mental disorders. I haven’t been diagnosed with anything in the DSM-V, but I definitely couldn’t do what Kartik’s done in the field of arts!
Broadly, OCD “traps” an individual within the pounding negativity of unintentional, “dangerous”, recurring thoughts. It exists on a spectrum, where the diagnosis is made upon examination of the severity of four key symptoms. An obsession with cleanliness and avoiding contamination, intrusive thoughts that may be disturbing in nature, fixation on symmetry and order, and desires to harm others that leak forth the yawning chasm that is the mind. OCD affects all aspects of a sufferers’ life – relationships, career, friendships, family, because when undiagnosed and untreated, it is, for lack of a better word, insidious. For Kartik, the weekends were not a source of solace – the dread of his intrusive thoughts running amok kept him clamouring for the steady humdrum of office life and its banal distractions. Interestingly, the episode went out of its way to hint that a mind plagued by OCD shouldn’t simply be viewed as a byzantine web of horrors – both “Bala” and Kartik, upon noticing an injured pigeon, were ensnared by their empathy for the distressed creatures. “Bala” felt the expiration of the pigeon’s nasty, brutish and short life as if it were a weight he had to carry, while Kartik battled his obsession with cleanliness by tending to the bird, risking contact with the animal’s blood. Empathy and bravery. Anbarasu emphasised the importance of finding out if comorbid disorders (a medical term in psychiatry for someone that has more than one mental disorder) were also present, because of the difficulty of diagnosis. In the final third of the episode, the viewer is meant to empathise, or at least sympathise with “Bala” – who unravels in a frenzied spiral of intrusive thoughts. Plagued by visions of harming his closest friend, or a pretty waitress he’d spotted, he is driven to hallucinations as bizarre as his showerhead turning into a snake.
Caught in a cycle of insomnia and isolation, his thoughts overwhelm him to the point of complete breakdown – he melts into the comforting bosom of his mother, all the while cognizant that he is a 29-year-old man. The tragic tale of “Bala” remains unresolved, but serves to inform the public that it is of the utmost importance to get a potential sufferer into treatment if the symptoms’ severities warrant it. Anbarasu brings the episode to a close, by using “Bala” as a cautionary tale – if you are experiencing such symptoms, or notice a loved one behaving similarly, seek professional medical help from a trained therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist. It is a treatable condition, and with the right help, your life could be as full as Kartik Anand’s.
Amongst lawyers, one of the leading causes given for mid-career abandonment is burnout. Promises Healthcare partnered with the Law Society of Singapore for a two hour professional development seminar aimed at addressing this issue by providing legal professionals with practical stress management strategies.
The President of the Law Society, Mr. Gregory Vijayendran, delivered the opening address to an eager crowd stating, ‘Burnout is one of the elephants in the room that we (legal professionals) need to address…Today we will talk about it.’
Dr. Munidasa Winslow, Executive Director and Consultant Psychiatrist at Promises Healthcare, shared an engaging and thoughtful presentation. He outlined why lawyers are so prone to burnout, how they can identify the early warning signs, and how to prevent burnout. Dr. Winslow also spoke about how lawyers in the areas of family and criminal law can develop compassion fatigue and suffer from vicarious traumatization.
Mr. Paul Seah, Senior Partner at Tan Kok Quan Partnership, presented ten key points on how lawyers can create work-life balance. He touched on generational differences, particularly among millennials and senior lawyers, and encouraged young professionals to identify their priorities and set their boundaries firmly to avoid burnout.
Here are some key takeaways from the seminar:
Burnout is a serious problem that can lead to adverse physical and mental health and has a detrimental impact on families, relationships, friendships, and careers.
Whilst stress is a part of everyday life, high levels of chronic stress will lead to exhaustion and burnout.
Prevent burnout by engaging in active self-care on a daily basis.
Being willing to seek help is not a weakness but a sign of strength, self-respect, and professionalism.
The responsibility for preventing burnout falls on individuals as well as the organization in which they work. Individual changes should be supported by changes in workplace culture led by senior management.
Contact Promises Healthcare if you or your organization would like to learn more about navigating professional burnout and managing stress. We provide individual training, employee assistance programs, as well as workshops and seminars for groups.
Although society has made some headway in reducing the stigma and misinformation about general mental health issues, the public’s understanding of self-harm remains decades behind. Let’s debunk some common myths about adolescent self-harm.
Myth: ‘Self-harm means cutting right? Only emos and goths do that.’
Self-harm refers to a range of behaviours that are purposely inflicted to cause damage to the body. It can include cutting, but also refers to scratching, picking at wounds, burning, pinching, hitting, head banging, and minor overdosing. Self-harm can also be in the form of excessive risk-taking that is above and beyond typical adolescent risk-taking.
It is a misconception that only ’emos’ and ‘goths’ self-harm. Although self-harm can be part of adolescent subculture experimentation, it is more often a sign that a teenager is experiencing unmanageable distress. Self-harm becomes a way of coping with distress that provides temporary relief from emotional pain.
Myth: ‘Self-harm is all about attention-seeking. If a person was really depressed enough to cut themselves then they would probably just commit suicide.’
Self-harm is not about attention-seeking. It is often a secretive and private behaviour. For a teenager, self-harm is a way of coping with unmanageable distress, and can be a medium to communicate that distress to others. Self-harm should never be dismissed as attention-seeking.
A person who cuts themselves is not necessarily suicidal. Cutting behaviour can be suicidal, non-suicidal, or a mix of both. It is important to remember that suicide risk is not static. A teenager who displays non-suicidal self-harm can become suicidal at another point in time.
Myth: ‘I can punish my teen so that they stop self-harming. That will solve the problem.’
Punishing a teen for self-harming does not solve the problem. Cutting is a symptom of a deeper issue – unmanageable distress. Stopping the cutting via punishment may actually worsen their distress, especially if the teen lacks healthy and effective coping strategies.
Here are some suggestions for what you can do instead of punishing your teen:
Written by Leeran Gold, Psychologist in our Forensic Service.
At Promises Healthcare, we are committed to helping you through your journey to recovery. Discover a new life and find renewed hope. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please contact our clinic for inquiries and consultations.
For after-hours crisis support contact your local mental health service or emergency services.
In Singapore: IMH 24-hour helpline +65 6389 2222, Ambulance 995.
Forensic psychology is as interesting as it sounds. People often imagine forensic psychologists running around in bullet proof vests catching criminals and solving crimes (think ‘Elizabeth Keen’ – forensic psychologist/FBI agent from hit television show Blacklist). Although real world forensic psychologists are more likely to be sitting behind a desk, there is still excitement, adventure, and risk in our daily lives.
What is forensic psychology?
Broadly, forensic psychology is the intersection of psychology and the law. This can include the practical application of clinical psychology in forensic settings. Forensic psychologists have specialised training in mental health and the law.
What settings do forensic psychologists work in?
Forensic psychologists work in a broad range of settings. The most common settings include;
Prisons
Courts
Inpatient mental health facilities
Government mental health departments
Private practice
Universities
Who does a forensic psychologist work with?
Forensic psychologists can work with both offenders and victims of crime, as well as those who are at risk of becoming offenders. People of any age, background, gender, ethnicity, race, and religion may become involved in the legal and/or mental health systems and therefore come under the scope of a forensic psychologist.
Forensic psychologists usually work with other professionals involved in the legal and mental health systems too. This can include legal professionals, law enforcement, government departments, prison staff, medical professionals, academics, and community organisations.
What does a day in the life of a forensic psychologist look like?
A day in the life of a forensic psychologist looks very different depending on the setting they work in. Here are the common functions of a forensic psychologist across most settings:
Forensic mental health assessment – this could be in a custodial setting (such as a remand center) or a private setting (such as a clinic taking referrals). The psychologist will assess a person to see whether they have a mental health concern, how it is linked to their legal issue, and make recommendations for treatment.
Forensic risk assessment – this can also be across a wide range of settings, but may be more common in a court setting, or inpatient mental health setting. The psychologist will assess a person’s risk of reoffending (violence, sex, stalking etc.) as well as their suicide risk, and make recommendations for risk management and reduction.
Court appearances – forensic psychologists working in any setting will often attend court to answer questions about reports they have written about a particular client. They may be asked to make recommendations to the court for the treatment and sentencing of an offender. Forensic psychologists are also asked to make recommendations to determine whether someone is ready for release from prison. Some forensic psychologists who have many years experience and specialisation in a particular niche become expert witnesses for the courts.
Group therapy – this can be in any setting. A forensic psychologist will conduct group therapy for a range of presenting problems. Common issues might be sex offender group therapy, violent offender group therapy, domestic violence group therapy, and group therapy for addiction recovery. The focus of group therapy is usually identifying the underlying causes for offending behaviour, and creating relapse prevention plans to reduce a person’s risk of reoffending.
Individual therapy – this can also be in any setting. A forensic psychologist can conduct individual therapy for a broad range of presenting problems. Individual therapy usually focuses on treating the underlying mental health problem that may be contributing to a person’s risk of reoffending. It can also include preparing a person for transition into or out of prison or inpatient settings, skill building, and motivating offenders to change.
Paperwork – we do spend a great deal of time writing case notes, scoring assessment measures, reading through collateral information, and writing reports.
Other things can include teaching, research, workshops, training, and consultancy.
At Promises Healthcare, we are committed to helping you through your journey to recovery. Discover a new life and find renewed hope. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please contact our clinic for inquiries and consultations.
As harrowing details of the British banker murder trial emerge, the media have shone a spotlight on his mental health and use of the ‘diminished responsibility’ defence. Here is a short introduction to the concept of ‘diminished responsibility’ and the role that forensic mental health experts may play in this trial written by Leeran Gold, Psychologist in our Forensic Service.
At Promises Healthcare, we are committed to helping you through your journey to recovery. Discover a new life, away from addiction and find renewed hope. Contact us to find out more.
Following a landmark case that ordered all privileged medico-legal reports to be struck off the record, the High Court of Singapore has set a new precedent in applying litigation privilege in criminal cases. Here are 3 key takeaways for forensic mental health professionals following the case written by Leeran Gold, Psychologist in our Forensic Service.
At Promises Healthcare, we are committed to helping you through your journey to recovery. Discover a new life, away from addiction and find renewed hope. Please contact our clinic on for inquiries and consultations.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
