5 Mental Health Red Flags You Shouldn't Ignore

Ever experienced a feeling of being overwhelmed, hopeless, or unbearably lonely? According to a survey that is part of the Singapore Youth Epidemiology and Resilience Study involving 3,336 young people aged 11 to 18 here, one in three youth in Singapore has reported internalising mental health symptoms. 

What’s more, a survey on mental health and wellness conducted by Rakuten Insight in Singapore also stated that 51% of the respondents indicated that they had a higher level of stress or anxiety in 2022.

It's an issue even more prevalent among parents, who have to deal with not only work stress, but also juggling family responsibilities and taking care of elderly parents, while maintaining a marriage and household. It's no wonder a lot of us feel like we're stuck in a rut, or are failing to meet expectations. Eventually, we find ourselves spiralling down a black hole that we find hard to get out of.

Of course, staying mentally well should be given the same priority as keeping physically fit.  However, most of these mental health triggers are often overlooked, mostly because we aren’t aware of them and their impact. Here are five to look out for.

Red Flag #1: Depression

Many local celebrities have, in recent years, opened up about their mental health struggles publicly. Among them are actresses Jeanette Aw and Michelle Chong, who have shared their experiences battling depression, as well as personalities like Munah Bagharib and Hanli Hoefer, who have discussed their anxiety-related struggles on social media. However, it shouldn’t be uncomfortable to discuss these issues, now that it’s more prevalent in the community than we expected.

When it comes to depression, it’s easy to dismiss the symptoms and avoid discussing them with your doctor. But having to experience and deal with depression can be tough, because, for most of us, depression doesn’t look (or feel) like what you think it is. And while the healing journey is an ongoing and arduous process, and there are times when we falter or have a few missteps along the way, the first step to recovery is choosing to get help.

Red Flag #2: Anxiety

Find yourself feeling more stressed, anxious, or down lately? You may be overwhelmed with work. Or for some, you might even find yourself experiencing feelings of intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about other everyday situations. Whatever the reason is, feelings of anxiety are common and they can even be the result of the hot weather in Singapore. Yes, you read that right. In our recent article, we uncovered how the rise in temperature can also exacerbate feelings of anxiety. Some of these symptoms include feelings of agitation, reduced appetite, increased irritability and insomnia, all of which are aggravated by stressors such as high heat and humidity.

Red Flag #3: Loneliness

Just got out of a long relationship with your partner? Starting to feel like everyone around you is getting married? While the singledom stress or even feelings of loneliness may be overwhelming at times, we’re here to tell you that a lot of us feel the same way at certain points in our lives. As pioneers of instant communication, millennials have been conditioned to fear being alone. Liking and commenting on each other’s pictures became the new way to display friendships. We crave that superficial interaction when our pictures hit 100 likes in the first hour. But likes can only get us so far. Social media has its limits, and while technology has transformed our lives, and mostly for the better, it’s not a panacea.

Red Flag #4: Burnout

A lot of us are stuck in this cycle: we’re constantly working and it’s stressing us out, but the stress of not completing our tasks makes us work harder. A potential result? Burnout. According to a survey released by health service company Cigna last year, Singaporeans are among the most stressed at work globally, with almost one in eight considering their stress unmanageable. It may be really daunting for some especially when you’re trying to go above and beyond to climb up the corporate ladder, but the real question is – at what cost? If you’re starting to notice signs of burnout, then it’s important that you take a step back and find a practical alternative to managing your stress levels.

Red Flag #5: Bereavement

While not exactly a red flag, bereavement is definitely a trigger that can affect your mental health. Losing a loved one often leads to a rush of emotions, including grief, and we can sometimes find it overwhelming to cope with them. Whether it’s a family member or friend, or even your pet, losing something that’s close to your heart can take a toll on your mental health.

Recognising these red flags — whether in yourself or in your loved ones — is only the first step, but half the battle won. Be sure to seek help by reaching out to a therapist or a trusted friend you can confide in.

Text: Shazrina Shamsudin/HerWorld. Updated by The Singapore Women's Weekly on 6 October 2023.