​​The Research Division has established a focus on mental health services and policy in the past few years by conducting research that are actionable and address the real-world questions that people living with mental illness, their families, providers, payers and policymakers face in selecting, delivering, and financing optimal care. Under the four-year Centre Grant that was awarded to the IMH to conduct health services, epidemiological as well as translational and clinical research studies, a number of projects are being conducted by the Mental Health Policy Studies group to address policy relevant issues among the general population as well as patients with mental illnesses and their families. The current research includes the following studies: 

High blood glucose levels is the 3rd highest risk factor for premature mortality after blood pressure and tobacco use. Diabetes is on the rise globally, despite the concerted healthcare-government efforts to prevent the disease. Apart from the risk of higher mortality, diabetes lead to higher morbidity and economic burden due to loss of job and medical costs. Unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, overweight and obesity are known risk factors associated with diabetes that are modifiable and thus an in-depth understanding of these factors at a local context would assist the ongoing anti-diabetes campaigns in Singapore. Previous research has identified barriers and facilitators for healthy lifestyle, diabetes prevention and care at a population level with little attention given to specific sub-groups within different diabetes diagnoses (Pre-diabetes, diabetes with complications and gestational diabetes). The barriers and facilitators faced by specific diabetes archetypes could be different and were not studied previously. This information is critical to support future diabetes prevention and management initiatives to further complement Singapore's War on Diabetes effort as it gives an in-depth understanding how these barriers differ among groups and how they can be addressed from the perspective of lived experience of those with diabetes. The results will also enable healthcare systems to improve existing services or develop new programmes that meet the requirements of prediabetes/diabetes patients.

This qualitative study aims to understand:

1.     Barriers and enablers of diagnosis, management, and self-care, among people with pre-diabetes or diabetes (Type 2 diabetes (T2DM), gestational diabetes, and T2DM with complications)

2.     Experiences and journey of diabetes patients through the healthcare system. 

The study is funded by the National Medical Research Council. The study will be conducted in collaboration with Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (Admiralty Medical Centre), National Healthcare Group Polyclinics and National University Hospital.

The study team includes

Principal Investigator:

  • Prof. Chong Siow Ann, Institute of Mental Health​

​Co-Investigator:

  • Assoc. Prof. Mythily Subramaniam, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr. Asharani PV Nair, Institute of Mental Health
  • Prof. Sum Chee Fang, Admiralty Medical Centre
  • Dr. Lee Eng Sing, National Healthcare Group Polyclinic
  • Prof. Chong Yap Seng, National University Hospital
  • Ms. Janhavi Vaingankar, Institute of Mental Health​

Drug use poses a significant threat to the health, social and economic fabric of families, communities and nations worldwide. However, little is known about the prevalence or factors associated with substance use in Singapore. The decision of the drugs to be included in the survey was done in a collaborative manner by IMH researchers and government agencies. Given the lack of population-level data on substance use in Singapore, undertaking a survey in the general population is necessary and will serve to inform the policy makers not only about the prevalence of substance use, but also its associated factors; information that will help in developing preventive measures and provide for evidence-based regulatory policies. 

The aims of the Health and Lifestyle survey are to:

1.     Establish the current prevalence of smartphone addiction, hazardous alcohol use and smoking and lifetime prevalence of drug use (common licit and illicit drugs) in the general population by gender and age group

2.     Examine frequency and amount of use, age of onset, mode of use, and reasons for initiation of substance (tobacco products, alcohol and drug) use

3.     Examine the association between sociodemographic attributes and substance use

4.     Examine risk and protective factors of drug use including awareness of anti-drug abuse messages, attitudes towards drugs and drug users, perception of harm caused by drugs

5.     Determine the harm associated with substance use including financial, social, strained family relationships, legal and medical complications (i.e., mental and physical illnesses, sleep disorder).

This two-year study is funded by the Ministry of Health and Home Team Behavioural Sciences Centre. 

The study team includes

Principal Investigator:

  • Assoc. Prof. Mythily Subramaniam, Institute of Mental Health 

Co-Investigators:

  • A/Prof Chong Siow Ann, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr Chua Hong Choon, Institute of Mental Health
  • A/Prof Lee Cheng, Institute of Mental Health
  • Mr Wang Junjie, Home Team Behavioural Sciences Centre
  • Dr Stefan Ma, Ministry of Health
  • Dr Lyn James, Ministry of Health
  • Dr Chow Wai Leng, Ministry of Health
  • ​Ms Janhavi Vaingankar, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr Asharani Pezhummoottil Vasudevan Nair, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr Edimansyah Abdin, Institute of Mental Health
  • Mr Chua Boon Yiang, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms Rajeswari Sambasivam, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms Yolanda Phua, Home Team Behavioural Sciences Centre

Following the COVID-19 outbreak in Singapore in 2020, the researchers launched a study to examine the prevalence of psychological distress and resilience in the population. It was expected that the anxiety caused by the risk of infection to self and loved ones, scarcity of resources and financial fall out would affect the mental well-being of the population. However, in the past one-year, Singapore has mitigated the effects of the pandemic both by controlling the spread of the infection, providing financial support to at-risk families and the launch of vaccination. Singapore has also progressively relaxed the rules of social distancing and leisure activities have resumed. Given, these changes since the last year, the current follow-up study aims to examine the prevalence of psychological distress and resilience in the same sample. Additional information will be gathered on the role of vaccinations (vaccine hesitancy, whether they have received the vaccine etc), burnout and coping strategies and their association with psychological distress and resilience.

The aims of the current follow-up study are to:

1.     To assess population well-being, psychological and behavioural responses one year after the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Singapore

2.     To compare the wellbeing, psychological and behavioural responses as well as risk and protective factors during and after the COVID-19 outbreak.

This two-year study is funded by the National Centre for Infectious Disease, Temasek Foundation and Ministry of Health. The preliminary study results for the Cross-sectional Study (2020) was reflected in the Ministry of Health Covid-19 Mental Health Taskforce Report (https://www.moh.gov.sg/docs/librariesprovider5/covid-19-report/comwt-report.pdf).

The study team includes

Principal Investigator:

  • A/Prof. Chong Siow Ann, Institute of Mental Health

Co-Investigators:

  • Assoc. Prof. Mythily Subramaniam, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms Janhavi Vaingankar, Institute of Mental Health
  • Mr Chua Boon Yiang, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr Edimansyah Abdin, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms Saleha Binte Shafie, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms Shazana Binte Mohamed Shahwan, Institute of Mental Health
  •  Ms Pratika Satghare, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms Wang Peizhi, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms Fiona Devi Siva Kumar, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms Teh Wen Lin, Institute of Mental Health

Collaborators:

  • Dr Michael Ni, University of Hong Kong
  • Phyllis Lun, University of Hong Kong

Suicide – the act of intentionally causing one's own death – is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and is a growing concern both globally and in Singapore. Locally, the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) reported that 452 lives were lost to suicide here in 2020. Furthermore, for every suicide, at least 6 suicide survivors are left behind.

Suicide is preventable. However, the factors contributing to suicide are complex, and a better understanding of these factors are needed to inform prevention and intervention approaches. As part of national suicide prevention efforts, the Research Division at IMH is undertaking a study to identify the characteristics and potential causes of suicide in Singapore. This study adopts the psychological autopsy method, which offers a direct means of examining the psychological and contextual circumstances preceding a person's suicide. This mixed-methods approach involves structured interviews with those closest to the deceased to retrospectively examine the decedent's life, including factors such as personality, lifestyle, interpersonal relationships, psychiatric diagnoses and physical health conditions. Where available, quantitative data are also collected from other corroborating sources. The information collected from multiple informants and sources will allow for a more comprehensive understanding of factors that could have led to the suicide.

Specifically, this study aims to:

1.     Gain a deeper understanding of risk and protective factors in those who die by suicides.

2.     Identify the barriers and facilitators of help-seeking among those in distress.

3.     Identify existing services and need for new services, if any, that can potentially help those in crises.

Data from this study will guide future interventions and campaigns to reduce the risk of suicides in Singapore. The data will also help in the provision of services for those facing a crisis. This three-year study is funded by Singapore's Ministry of Health. 

The study team includes

Principal Investigator:

  •  Assoc. Prof Mythily Subramaniam, Institute of Mental Health​

Co-Investigators:

  • Prof Chong Siow Ann, Institute of Mental Health
  • Assoc. Prof Daniel Fung, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms Shazana Binte Mohamed Shahwan, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr Edimansyah Abdin, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr Ganesh Kudva Kundadak, Institute of Mental Health
  • Mr P. Kumarasan Roystonn, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms Teh Wen Lin, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr Liu Jianlin, Institute of Mental Health
  • Mr Goh Chong Min Janrius, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr Tina Fang, Institute of Mental Health
  • Mr Tan Yeow Wee Brian, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms Tan Hsiao Shen Rachel, Institute of Mental Health
  • Mr Gasper Tan, Samaritans of Singapore
  • Ms Charlene Heng, Samaritans of Singapore

Disability is an important indicator of disease burden and effectiveness of health interventions. The World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning (ICF), Disability, and Health defines disability as "a difficulty in functioning at the body, person, or societal levels, in one or more life domains, as experienced by an individual with a health condition in interaction with contextual factors". A growing number of studies across all diseases, have employed the WHODAS 2.0 to measure disability. With a major change in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale has been removed and the WHODAS 2.0 has been recommended as a possible replacement. With the introduction of functioning measures in the 11th International Classification of Diseases, the WHO has promoted the use of ICD-11, DSM-5 and ICF in clinical practice. Therefore, it is expected that the ICD-11 and DSM-5 will likely encourage the use of the WHODAS 2.0. Despite this direction, the use of WHODAS 2.0 in Singapore is still limited. There is gap in our knowledge about the performance of this instrument in the Singapore context among patients with mental and physical health problems.

The study aims to:

1.     Assess the psychometric properties of the WHODAS 2.0 in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum, depression and anxiety disorders, and diabetes.

2.     Examine test-retest reliability and agreement between three modes of administrations (self-report, rater-administered, and proxy-administered) of the WHODAS 2.0.

3.     Compare the responsiveness to change of the WHODAS 2.0 against disease-specific and other known measures over 1-year follow-up based on effect size between two-time point assessments.

The multi-disciplinary research team is led by Dr Edimansyah Abdin, Principal Biostatistician, from the Institute of Mental Health and comprises local research investigators from IMH, National Healthcare Group Polyclinic and Agency for Integrated Care.

This three-year project is funded by the MOH Health Services Research Competitive Research Grant (HSR-CRG).

The study team includes

Principal Investigator:

  • Dr Edimansyah Abdin, Institute of Mental Health

Co-Investigators:

  • ​Prof Chong Siow Ann, Institute of Mental Health
  • Assoc. Prof. Mythily Subramaniam, Institute of Mental Health
  • ​Assoc. Prof. Swapna Verma, Institute of Mental Health
  • ​Ms Janhavi Vaingankar, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr Mok Yee Ming, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr Tan Weng Mooi, Agency for Integrated Care
  • Dr Lee Eng Sing, National Healthcare Group Polyclinic

Very often, the patients' perspective is overlooked in research, service design and delivery. Involving multiple stakeholders, especially the laypersons, can be cumbersome, time consuming and considered less efficient. Yet, mental healthcare is very much evolving in our current landscape. Patient empowerment and involvement is gaining traction even in Asian regions like Singapore, India, Hong Kong and China. Co-production is a process where persons in recovery, their supporters and mental health professionals collaborate to create and deliver quality care and services jointly. It values the lived experience of people with mental health conditions and the different perspectives of various contributing parties. In this project, we have created two co-produced psychoeducation workshop series, Striking Matches: Re(dis)covering the light within and Broken Crayons Still Colour, with the support of more than 30 volunteers. The volunteers were involved from the beginning to the end, making key decisions with the organizing staff of this project. This project is a collaboration between the Early Psychosis Intervention Programme and Research Division.

Given the lack of the evidence base on the effectiveness of co-produced services in Singapore, performing an outcome evaluation on the effectiveness of co-produced workshops, like Striking Matches and Broken Crayons are important endeavours to ensure continued, meaningful involvement of people with mental health conditions in the design and delivery of healthcare services.

The aims of the co-production study are to:

1.     Unite patients, mental health professionals and members of public on a common platform to co-produce a series of educational workshops for persons in recovery from psychosis.

2.     Deliver co-produced workshops to a group of patients, caregivers, mental healthcare professionals and anyone with an interest in psychosis.

3.     Gather quantitative and qualitative feedback on the efficacy of the workshops from participants and facilitators.

This pilot project is funded by a Population Health Grant from the National Healthcare Group.

The study team includes

Principal Investigator:

  • Dr. Lee Ying, Research Division, Institute of Mental Health

Co-Investigators:

  • Mr. Koo Wei Ler, Research Division, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms. Tan Yi Fong, Research Division, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr. Charmaine Tang, Early Psychosis Intervention Programme, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms. Ang Suying, Early Psychosis Intervention Programme, Institute of Mental Health
  • Assoc. Prof. Mythily Subramaniam, Research Division, Institute of Mental Health

Caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD) usually face significant caregiving burden and stress. However, due to their intensive involvement in the daily caregiving, they often have difficulties in attending face-to-face interventions. This situation has become worse due to the COVID-19 outbreak. To better support them now and in the future, the Research Division, Institute of Mental Health proposed to develop a multi-component mobile platform (i.e., an App) to provide daily support to local informal caregivers of PWD and to explore its potential effectiveness. Up to 115 informal caregivers of PWD will be included in this project.

The main aims of this project are to:

1.     Design and develop a mobile-based multi-component intervention (i.e., an app) to promote mental health among informal caregivers of individuals with dementia in Singapore,

2.     Pilot-test the effectiveness of the app among a convenience sample of local informal dementia caregivers.

3.     Collect feedback on the mobile app from the participants for its future improvements

This two-year study is funded by the National Health Group Population Health Grant.

The study team includes

Principal Investigator:

  • Dr Qi Yuan, Institute of Mental Health​

Co-investigators:

  • Assoc. Prof Mythily Subramaniam, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr Edimansyah Abdin, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr Richard Goveas, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr Li-Ling Ng, Changi General Hospital
  • Ms. Ellaisha Samari, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms. YunJue Zhang, Institute of Mental Health
  • Mr. Wei Ler Koo, Institute of Mental Health

Traumatic life events in childhood and adulthood are robustly associated with the development of severe mental disorders, such as mood disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The non-specific relationship between trauma exposure and psychopathology indicates that traumatic stress is a transdiagnostic risk factor for severe mental disorders. Prior trauma exposure in itself is not an amenable target for clinical interventions; thus, research is focused on elucidating the role of individual cognitive and affective styles which are amenable to change. A recent systematic review on the relationship between childhood adversities and affective disorders highlighted that maladaptive cognitive styles and predisposing personality dimensions are important transdiagnostic mediators; however, the interaction between these two areas is poorly understood. Therefore, the present study investigates the complex interactions among transdiagnostic risk factors - emotion dysregulation, social support, and pathological personality traits, and their influence on depressive and PTSD symptoms in a sample of patients with affective disorders (N = 200).

Specific study aims are to:

1.     Determine the direction and effect sizes of interactions among transdiagnostic risk factors - emotion dysregulation, social support, and pathological personality traits, and their associations with depressive and PTSD symptoms.

2.     Provide comparative data on the severity of emotion dysregulation and traumatic life events in patients with affective disorders, which will be systematically evaluated in relation to patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (previously completed study; PI: Dr. Liu Jianlin).

This two-year study is funded by the Institute of Mental Health Research Fund.

The study team includes

Principal Investigator:

  • Dr. Liu Jianlin, Institute of Mental Health

Co-Investigators:

  • Assoc. Prof. Mythily Subramaniam, Institute of Mental Health
  • Assoc. Prof. Mok Yee Ming, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr. Tor Phern Chern, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr. Christopher Chan Yi Wen, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr. Lau Boon Jia, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms. Shazana Shahwan, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms. Teh Wen Lin, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms. Sherilyn Chang Shi Hui, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms. Rachel Tan Hsiao Shen, Institute of Mental Health

The prevalence of diabetes is increasing rapidly across the globe with 537 million people suffering from the disease in 2021. This number is estimated to increase by 46% in 2045. In Singapore, the prevalence of diabetes has gone higher from 8.8% in 2017 to 9.5% in 2019-2020. While Type 2 diabetes has different etiological underpinnings, diet and physical activity were identified as the modifiable risk factors that can reduce the incidence of diabetes. Ministry of Health together with Health Promotion Board has implemented numerous lifestyle initiates and awareness programs to rally the nation towards diabetes prevention. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of this programmes was not evaluated previously. Also, the knowledge, attitudes and lifestyle practices of Singapore's general population towards diabetes and diabetes initiatives which is invaluable in understanding the knowledge gaps in preventing, detecting and managing diabetes, was not studied previously.

The KAP survey aimed to:

1.     Examine the knowledge, attitudes and protective practices pertaining to diabetes among Singapore's general population

2.     Examine the differences in lifestyle and preventive health behaviours of Singapore residents (Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents) with and without diabetes

3.     Identify the knowledge gaps and behavioural patterns that may hamper diabetes prevention and control in Singapore's resident population

4.     Examine diabetes related stigma from the perspective of those with (self-stigma) and without diabetes (public stigma)

5.     Elucidate facilitators and nudges for adoption of healthy lifestyle in the population

The study was conducted in collaboration with Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (Admiralty Medical Centre), National Healthcare Group Polyclinics and Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, and was funded by the National Medical Research Council under the Health Services Research Grant (HSRG). A total of 2895 participants from the general population and 100 from a clinical cohort of known diabetes patients had taken part in the study. The study showed that majority of Singapore residents (83.5%) were able to recognize the signs and symptoms of diabetes correctly. Age, gender, ethnicity, employment status and diabetes diagnosis status were associated with correct recognition of diabetes. The population was knowledgeable about the likely causes of the disease and complications of untreated diabetes. There were low levels of stigma towards diabetes. The study also identified several barriers and facilitators for adopting healthy lifestyle. The results from the study was published in international peer-reviewed journals.

The study team includes

Principal Investigator:

  • Prof. Chong Siow Ann, Institute of Mental Health

Co-Investigator:

  • Assoc. Prof. Mythily Subramaniam, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr. Asharani PV Nair, Institute of Mental Health
  • Prof. Sum Chee Fang, Admiralty Medical Centre
  • Dr. Lee Eng Sing, National Healthcare Group Polyclinic
  • Prof. Rob Martinus Van Dam, National University of Singapore
  • Ms. Janhavi Vaingankar, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr. Edimansyah Abdin, Institute of Mental Health
  • Mr. Chua Boon Yiang, Institute of Mental Health
  • Mr. P. Kumarasan Royston, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms. Fiona Devi Siva Kumar, Institute of Mental Health​

List of Publications

1.     Roystonn, K., Lau, J. H., AshaRani, P. V., Kumar, F. D. S., Wang, P., Fang, S. C., ... & Subramaniam, M. (2021). Recognition of Diabetes in a Multi-ethnic Population: Results from a Nationally Representative Population-Based Study. BMJ Open. . 2022;0:e050425. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050425

2.     Brian, T. Y. W., Hua, L. J., AshaRani, P. V., Roystonn, K., Devi, F., Ying, L. Y., ... & Subramaniam, M. (2021). Dietary Patterns of Persons with Chronic Conditions in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Population. Archives of Public Health (2022) 80:62. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-022-00817-2

3.     Subramaniam, M., Abdin, E., Bhuvaneswari, S., AshaRani, P. V., Devi, F., Roystonn, K., ... & Chong, S. A. (2021). Prevalence and Correlates of Social Stigma Toward Diabetes: Results From a Nationwide-Survey in Singapore. Frontiers in psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.692573

4.     Asharani, P.V.; Lau, J.H.; Roystonn, K.; Devi, F.; Peizhi,W.; Shafie, S.; Chang, S.; Jeyagurunathan,A.; Yiang, C.B.; Abdin, E.; et al. Health Literacy and Diabetes Knowledge: A Nationwide Survey in a Multi-Ethnic Population. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18,9316. https://doi.org/10.3390/

5.     ijerph18179316

6.     AshaRani P.V., Jue Hua L, Roystonn K, Siva Kumar FD, Peizhi W, Ying Jie S, Shafie S, Chang S, Jeyagurunathan A, Boon Yiang C, Abdin E, Ajit Vaingankar J, Sum CF, Lee ES, Chong SA, Subramaniam M. Readiness and Acceptance of eHealth Services for Diabetes Care in the General Population: Cross-sectional Study.J Med Internet Res 2021;23(9): e26881

7.     PV Asharani …Lee Eng Sing, Rob M. van Dam, Chong Siow Ann, Mythily Subramaniam. A Nationwide Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP) Survey on Diabetes in Singapore's General Population: study protocol. BMJ Open,2020, 10, e037125.

8.     Subramaniam M, Abdin E, Bhuvaneswari S, AshaRani PV, Devi F, Roystonn K, Wang P, Samari E, Shafie S, Vaingankar JA, van Dam RM, Lee ES, Sum CF, Chong SA. Prevalence and Correlates of Social Stigma Toward Diabetes: Results from a Nationwide- Survey in Singapore. Front Psychol. 2021 Jul 9; 12:692573. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.692573. PMID: 34305751; PMCID: PMC8298907.

9.     Subramaniam M, Koh YS, AshaRani PV, Devi, F, Shafie S, Wang P, Abdin E, Vaingankar JA, Sum CF, Lee ES, Chong SA.The Prevalence and Correlates of Disability in Singapore: Results from a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021. 18(24);13090

10.   Lau, J.H., Nair, A., Abdin, E., Kumarasan, R., Wang, P., Devi, F., Sum, C.F., Lee, E.S., Müller-Riemenschneider, F., & Subramaniam, M. (2021). Prevalence and patterns of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and their association with health-related quality of life within a multi-ethnic Asian population. BMC Public Health, 21. DOI:10.1186/s12889-021-11902-6


​The Singapore Mental Health Study (SMHS) 2016, a three-year project starting in Apr 2015 received funding from the Ministry of Health, Singapore and the Temasek Foundation. It was a comprehensive national psychiatric epidemiological study among adults in Singapore. The project led by IMH is an ongoing serial collaborative study between IMH, MOH, Nanyang Technological University and Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.  

​The SMHS 2016 aimed to: 

1.     Track and trend the state of mental health status of the Singapore population since the last survey conducted in 2010 

2.     Establish the lifetime and 12-month prevalence of select mental disorders in the adult Singapore resident population,  

3.     Describe the current use of mental health services (both Western and traditional services), level of unmet need including treatment gaps, and identify facilitators and barriers to mental health treatment and the financial, social and personal costs associated with mental illness  

4.     Estimate the societal cost of schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.

The survey was conducted over 1.5 years from 2016 – 2018 where 6126 interviews were completed at households in Singapore, comprising of a representative sample of residents aged 18 years and above.  The study has provided data that are necessary to trend the changes following the National Mental Health Blueprint and Policy and to evaluate the impact of the key initiatives that have been implemented. It has also established the prevalence of disorders that hitherto have not been established in Singapore such as schizophrenia and related psychoses, and suicidality. 

The study team includes

Principal Investigators:

  • Prof. Chong Siow Ann, Institute of Mental Health
  • Assoc. Prof. Mythily Subramaniam, Institute of Mental Health

Co-Investigator:

  • Assoc. Prof. Swapna Verma, Institute of Mental Health
  • Assoc. Prof. Chua Hong Choon, Institute of Mental Health
  • Assoc. Prof. Derrick Heng, Ministry of Health
  • Prof. Kwok Kian Woon, Nanyang Technological University
  • Ms. Janhavi Vaingankar, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr. Edimansyah Abdin, Institute of Mental Health
  • Mr. Chua Boon Yiang, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms. Saleha Binte Shafie, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms. Shazana Binte Mohamed Shahwan, Institute of Mental Health
  • Ms. Anitha Jeyagurunathan, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr Sutapa Basu, Institute of Mental Health
  • Dr Tommy Chan Chun Ting, Institute of Mental Health​

Publications arising from SMHS 2016: 

1.      Subramaniam, M., Abdin, E., Vaingankar, J.A., Shafie, S., Chua, B.Y., Sambasivam, R., Zhang, Y.J., Shahwan, S., Chang, S., Chua, H.C., Verma, S., James, L., Kwok, K.W., Heng, D., Chong, S.A. (2019). Tracking the mental health of a nation: prevalence and correlates of mental disorders in the second Singapore mental health study. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences 1–10.

2.      Chang S., Abdin, E., Shafie, S., Sambasivam, R., Vaingankar, J.A., Ma, S., Chong, S.A. Subramaniam M. (2019). Prevalence and correlates of generalized anxiety disorder in Singapore: Results from the second Singapore Mental Health Study. Journal of Anxiety Disorders.

3.      Jeyagurunathan A, Abdin E, Vaingankar JA, Chua BY, Shafie S, Chang SHS, James L, Tan KB, Basu S, Chong SA, Subramaniam M.  Prevalence and Comorbidity of Migraine Headache: Results from the Singapore Mental Health Study 2016.  Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.  55(1):33-43

4.      Lee YY, Wang P, Abdin E, Chang S, Shafie S, Sambasivam R, Tan KB, Tan C, Heng D, Vaingankar JA, Chong SA, Subramaniam M.  Prevalence of Binge Drinking and Its Association with Mental Health Conditions and Quality of Life in Singapore.   Addictive Behaviors.  100, 106114

5.      Shahwan S, Abdin E, Shafie S, Chang S, Sambasivam R, Zhang Y, Vaingankar JA, Teo YY, Heng D, Chong SA, Subramaniam M.  Prevalence and correlates of smoking and nicotine dependence: results of a nationwide cross-sectional survey among Singapore residents.  BMJ Open.  9(10):e032198

6.      Subramaniam M, Abdin E, Vaingankar JA, Shafie S, Chua HC, Tan WM, Tan KB, Verma S, Heng D, Chong SA.  Minding the treatment gap: results of the Singapore Mental Health Study.  Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01748-0

7.      Abdin E, Chong SA, Vaingankar JA, Shafie S, Verma S, Luo N, Tan KB, James L, Heng D, Subramaniam M.  Impact of Mental Disorders and Chronic Physical Conditions on Quality-Adjusted Life Years in Singapore.  Scientific Reports.  10(1): 2695 (Feb) IF: 4.122

8.      Abdin E, Chong SA, Vaingankar JA, Shafie S, Seah D, Chan CT, Ma S, James L, Heng D, Subramaniam M.  Changes in the prevalence of comorbidity of mental and physical disorders in Singapore between 2010 and 2016.  Singapore Medical Journal. 

9.      Roystonn  K, Vaingankar JA, Chua BY, Sambasivam R, Shafie S, Jeyagurunathan A, Verma S, Abdin E, Chong SA, Subramaniam M. The Public Health Impact and Policy Implications of Online Support Group Use for Mental Health in Singapore: Cross-Sectional Survey. JMIR Mental Health.  7(8):e18114

10.    Seet V, Abdin E, Vaingankar JA, Shahwan S, Chang S, Lee B, Chong SA, Subramaniam M.  The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Population: Results From the 2016 Singapore Mental Health Study.  BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies.  20(1):52

11.    Seow LSE, Tan XW, Chong SA, Vaingankar JA, Abdin E, Shafie S, Chua BY, Heng D, Subramaniam M.  Independent and combined associations of sleep duration and sleep quality with common physical and mental disorders: Results from a multi-ethnic population-based study.  PLoS One.  15(7):e0235816

12.    Shafie S, Subramaniam M, Abdin E, Vaingankar JA, Sambasivam R, Zhang Y, Shahwan S, Chang S, Jeyagurunathan A, Chong SA.  Help-Seeking Patterns Among the General Population in Singapore: Results from the Singapore Mental Health Study 2016.  Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research.  doi: 10.1007/s10488-020-01092-5

13.    Subramaniam M, Abdin E, Vaingankar JA, Shafie S, Chang S, Seow E, Chua BY, Jeyagurunathan A, Heng D, Kwok KW, Chong SA.  Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Singapore: Prevalence, Comorbidity, Quality of Life and Social Support.  Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.  49(1):15-25

14.    Subramaniam M, Abdin E, Seow E, Vaingankar JA, Shafie S, Shahwan S, Lim M, Fung D, James L, Verma S, Chong SA.  Prevalence, Socio-Demographic Correlates and Associations of Adverse Childhood Experiences with Mental Illnesses: Results from the Singapore Mental Health Study.  Child Abuse & Neglect. 103:104447

15.    Teh WL, Abdin E, Vaingankar JA, Shafie S, Chua BY, Sambasivam R, Zhang Y, Shahwan S, Chang S, Mok YM, Verma S, Heng D, Subramaniam M, Chong SA.  Prevalence and Correlates of Bipolar Spectrum Disorders in Singapore: Results From the 2016 Singapore Mental Health Study (SMHS 2016).  Journal of Affective Disorders.  274:339-346

16.    Vaingankar JA, Chong SA, Abdin E, Kumar, FDS, Chua BY, Sambasivam R, Shafie S, Jeyagurunathan A, Seow E, Subramaniam M.  Understanding the Relationships Between Mental Disorders, Self-Reported Health Outcomes and Positive Mental Health: Findings from a National Survey.  Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.  18(1):55

17.    Lau JH, Abdin E, Vaingankar JA, Shafie S, Sambasivam R, Shahwan S, Thumboo J, Chong SA, Subramaniam M.  Confirmatory factor analysis and measurement invariance of the English, Mandarin, and Malay versions of the SF-12v2 within a representative sample of the multi-ethnic Singapore population.  Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.  10;19(1):80

18.    Subramaniam M, Abdin E, Vaingankar JA, Chang S, Sambasivam R, Jeyagurunathan A, Seow LES, Van Dam R, Chow WL, Chong SA.  Association of adverse childhood experiences with diabetes in adulthood: results of a cross-sectional epidemiological survey in Singapore.  BMJ Open.  11(3):e045167  

19.    Subramaniam M, Abdin E, Vaingankar JA, Sambasivam R,  Zhang YJ, Shafie S, Basu S, Chan CT, Tan CS, Verma SK, Tang C, Chua HC, Heng D, Chong SA.  Lifetime Prevalence and Correlates of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders in Singapore.  Frontiers in Psychiatry. 

20.    Vaingankar JA, Chong SA, Abdin E, Shafie S, Chua BY, Shahwan S, Verma S, Subramaniam M.  Early age of onset of mood, anxiety and alcohol use disorders is associated with sociodemographic characteristics and health outcomes in adults: results from a cross-sectional national survey.   Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. doi: 10.1007/s00127-021-02070-4

21.    Vaingankar JA, Choudhary N, Chong SA, Kumar FDS, Abdin E , Shafie S, Chua BY, van Dam RM, Subramaniam M.  Religious Affiliation in Relation to Positive Mental Health and Mental Disorders in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Population.  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.  18, 3368. doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073368

22.    Roystonn K, Abdin E, Sambasivam R, Zhang Y, Chang S, Shafie S, Chua BY, Vaingankar JA, Chong SA, Subramaniam M. Accuracy of self-reported height, weight and BMI in a multiethnic Asian population. Ann Acad Med Singap. 2021 Apr;50(4):306-314.