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S’pore turns into “hardship post” as it chose to prioritise inbound business travellers and inbound ‘bubble-wrapped package tourists

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3 years ago

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Singapore has effectively turned into “a hardship post” as it chose to prioritise inbound business travellers on controlled itineraries and inbound “bubble-wrapped” package tourists in its reopening plan, said Andreas Birnik, who was an adjunct professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Mr Birnik, a Swedish national living in Singapore, cited Minister of State at the Trade and Industry Ministry Alvin Tan’s Facebook post on Wednesday that said that Singapore will allow entry of vaccinated business travellers from some countries on “a carefully controlled itinerary”.

In his post, Mr Tan said that the government is also exploring ways to expand this pilot for inbound and outbound leisure travel.

“Outbound leisure travel will likely be to safer countries with lower infection rates. For inbound tourism, we are looking into bubble-wrapped itineraries with organized tour groups.

“We will consider factors such as the target countries’ infection, vaccination rates and ability to control outbreaks,” he wrote.

Mr Tan also cautioned that Singapore will see more COVID-19 cases as it re-opens borders to other countries.

“Even though we are one of the world’s most fully vaccinated countries, we must continue to be careful. We will still need masking, testing, tracing and safe management measures. We will review these measures over time but we are taking risk-based approach to re-opening,” he added.

Following Mr Tan’s post, Mr Birnik took to his LinkedIn page on Thursday, saying that the announcement was “disheartening” to many of the international community in Singapore.

He noted that while Singapore has chosen to prioritize inbound business travellers on controlled itineraries and inbound “bubble-wrapped” packages tourists in its reopening plan, many of the international community in the country have yet been able to see their families due to the pandemic.

Mr Birnik shared that his daughter has not been able to see her grandparents in Sweden for two years and one month, and “many are in the same boat” as them.

“The path forward for Singapore’s ‘re-opening’, leaves people like us unable to have our fully vaccinated parents come and visit without having to endure expensive and challenging 2-week quarantine in a tiny hotel room.

“And it leaves us unable to travel to our home countries and come back to Singapore without the same quarantine requirements for ourselves. If this is what ‘living with COVID’ looks like, it is not a very liveable life for those of us with family elsewhere.

“It effectively turns Singapore into a ‘hardship post’ where you become separated from your family for years and years,” he remarked.

Noting that Singapore is now the fifth most vaccinated country in the world, with its hospital load from COVID-19 is also fully under control, Mr Birnik asked when will the country be ready to finally open up.

“Many tell me, just give it more time and things will change. But after being separated from ageing parents in Europe for 2 years and 1 month, we don’t want to hear that we should wait longer without any clear roadmap or objective criteria for opening up. We have simply waited long enough.

“And with one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, and no hospital overload, there is no objective rationale to ask us to be patient and wait longer. The time to open up is now. The time to let life go on is now. The time for Singapore to change track is now,” he added.

Mr Birnik shares Sweden’s COVID-19 fatalities rate, and Israel’s severe cases of COVID-19 amid Delta variant outbreak

In another LinkedIn post on Thursday, Mr Birnik shared two sets of informative data indicating the COVID-19 fatalities rate in Sweden, and the severe cases of COVID-19 in Israel which have gone up due to the Delta variant outbreak.

“Exhibit A (on the left) shows the fatalities in Sweden which followed a rather laissez-faire strategy by letting three waves of COVID-19 sweep through a largely unvaccinated population.

“And we now have the results of this natural experiment: 14,658 fatalities corresponding to 0.14% of the total population of 10.2 million people. Moreover, 89% of the fatalities were above 70 years old and 67% were above 80 years old,” he noted.

Mr Birnik highlighted that Sweden’s COVID-19 death rate as of 11 August has shown that COVID-19 is most deadly to the senior population in a country with “a well-functioning medical system”.

“It shows that COVID-19 sweeping through an unvaccinated population, with a well-functioning medical system, appears to be a multiple of a regular flu season rather than an existentialist threat that brings an entire society to its knees (e.g. Ebola),” he said.

Israel’s recent data of the Delta variant outbreak, on the other hand, shows that the Pfizer vaccine has provided a strong shield against severe COVID-19.

Mr Birnik pointed out that the efficacy rate of the Pfizer vaccine declines with age due to “weaker immune systems coupled with co-morbidities”, but it has clearly made “a massive difference”.

Source: Andreas Birnik/LinkedIn

“Taken together, Exhibit A and B suggest that an aggressive re-opening of Singapore would be unlikely to bring the country to its knees,” he added.

Mr Birnik opined that the data sets have illustrated the countries’ lack of a data-driven strategy.

“Sweden’s flaw was making a reckless base jump off the pandemic cliff without any kind of data whatsoever to inform the country’s pandemic strategy. Sweden’s failure was not adopting the precautionary principle until more was known about the disease. In short, the country took a gamble.

“Singapore’s flaw is persisting with one of the world’s most restrictive and cautious COVID-19 strategies despite the data now available (e.g. Exhibit A and B) coupled with the country having the world’s fifth highest vaccination rate.

“Singapore’s failure is maintaining very restrictive COVID-19 policies that do not appear to be proportionate to the threat being faced given what we now know about fatality rates in a densely-populated well-vaccinated country with a well-functioning medical system (e.g. in Israel),” he explained.

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Health

Survey reveals one-third of Singaporean youth struggle with severe mental health issues

A national study by the Institute of Mental Health reveals that 30.6% of Singaporean youth suffer from severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress, driven by factors like excessive social media use, body image concerns, and cyberbullying. The findings emphasize the need for early intervention and targeted mental health strategies.

Published

2 weeks ago

on

23 September 2024

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A significant portion of Singapore’s youth are experiencing severe mental health challenges, according to a comprehensive national survey conducted by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH).

The National Youth Mental Health Study (NYMHS), released on 19 September 2023, found that 30.6% of individuals aged 15 to 35 reported severe or extremely severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress, with key risk factors including excessive social media use, body shape concerns, and experiences of cyberbullying.

The study, which surveyed 2,600 Singaporean citizens and permanent residents, highlights the growing mental health concerns among Singaporean youth and suggests the need for more targeted interventions and support systems.

Mental Health Issues Prevalent Among Youth

Anxiety was the most common mental health issue, with 27% of respondents reporting severe or extremely severe symptoms, followed by depression (14.9%) and stress (12.9%).

These findings underscore the high prevalence of mental health issues among young people, particularly in those aged 15 to 24, who were more likely to report severe symptoms compared to older participants.

According to the IMH, young people who were female, single, unemployed, or had lower levels of education or household income were more prone to severe mental health symptoms.

For example, youth with monthly household incomes below S$5,000 were more likely to experience severe anxiety​.

Key Risk Factors: Social Media, Body Image, and Cyberbullying

The study identified three major factors linked to severe mental health symptoms:

  1. Excessive Social Media Use: Around 27% of respondents reported using social media for more than three hours daily, which was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of severe mental health issues. Youth with excessive social media use were 1.5 to 1.6 times more likely to experience severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress​.
  2. Body Shape Concerns: About 20.2% of youth had moderate to severe concerns about their body image. These individuals were 4.9 times more likely to experience severe depression, 4.3 times more likely to experience severe anxiety, and 4.5 times more likely to suffer from severe stress​. Such concerns were often linked to social media exposure, which can perpetuate unrealistic beauty standards and increase dissatisfaction with one’s body.
  3. Cyberbullying: One in five youth (21%) reported being victims of cyberbullying. These individuals were approximately twice as likely to report severe mental health symptoms compared to those who had not experienced such harassment​. The anonymity and pervasive nature of online bullying exacerbates the mental health toll on young people, according to the study.

Demographics at Higher Risk

The study found that specific demographics were more vulnerable to mental health issues. Young people aged 15 to 24 were more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and stress, particularly females, those who were single, and those with lower levels of education, such as junior college or vocational qualifications​.

The Malay ethnic group was also found to have a higher prevalence of severe mental health symptoms compared to other ethnic groups​.

Barriers to Seeking Help and Sources of Support

Although about 69.1% of those with severe mental health symptoms sought help—primarily from family and friends—a significant portion of young people hesitated to seek professional support.

The top reasons included concerns about privacy, fear of judgment, and doubts about the effectiveness of professional services​.

Among those who sought help, family and friends were the most common sources of support (57.9%), followed by self-help measures (31.1%) and medical services (20.1%)​.

However, the reluctance to seek professional help highlights the need for continued efforts to destigmatize mental health treatment and increase awareness of available services.

Protective Factors: Resilience, Social Support, and Self-Esteem

The study also identified factors that helped mitigate mental health challenges. Youth who reported higher levels of resilience, perceived social support, and self-esteem were significantly less likely to experience severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress.

This suggests that fostering strong support networks and building resilience in youth could play a critical role in improving their mental well-being​.

Government Response and Preventive Measures

The findings of the NYMHS support Singapore’s broader National Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy, launched in October 2023, which adopts a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to addressing mental health concerns. Schools have already begun integrating mental health education into their curricula, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to manage their well-being.

Additionally, the government introduced the Parenting for Wellness toolbox in September 2023 to help parents manage their children’s screen time and promote healthy social media usage.

A guide on responsible social media use, expected to be released by mid-2025, will offer further strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of excessive screen time and online harassment​.

Future Implications and Policy Development

Associate Professor Swapna Verma, chairman of IMH’s medical board and co-principal investigator of the study, emphasized the importance of early intervention.

“Not all individuals with severe or extremely severe symptoms of depression or anxiety have a clinical condition, but being in such states for a prolonged period of time can be detrimental to their well-being,” she said​.

The study’s data will help policymakers and healthcare providers develop more targeted approaches to address the mental health needs of Singapore’s youth, especially those most at risk.

Associate Professor Mythily Subramaniam, IMH’s assistant chairman of medical board (research), stressed the need to pay attention to issues like excessive social media use and cyberbullying, noting their “tremendous impact on youth mental health” and the importance of preventive measures​.

Support for Youth Facing Mental Health Challenges

Young people dealing with mental health challenges in Singapore have access to various resources:

  • CHAT (Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health): CHAT offers a safe and confidential space for youth to seek help through online and face-to-face mental health assessments and support.
  • Institute of Mental Health (IMH): IMH provides a comprehensive range of mental health services, including outpatient consultations and inpatient care. Youth in crisis can also seek immediate assistance from the 24-hour Mental Health Helpline at 6389 2222.
  • Samaritans of Singapore (SOS): SOS offers emotional support for those feeling distressed or experiencing suicidal thoughts. Their 24-hour hotline is 1767.
  • Health Promotion Board’s National Care Hotline: This hotline provides immediate emotional support for those in need and can be reached at 1800-202-6868.
  • Counselling Services: School-based counsellors, as well as community-based services such as TOUCH Youth, provide further avenues of support for young people grappling with mental health issues.
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Health

Malaysia reports new mpox case in man without recent international travel

Malaysia has confirmed its first mpox case of 2024 in a male patient, the Health Ministry reported. The patient is in isolation and stable, with authorities monitoring his contacts. This brings the total confirmed cases since July 2023 to ten, all from clade II.

Published

2 weeks ago

on

17 September 2024

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MALAYSIA: The Malaysian Health Ministry confirmed a new case of monkeypox (mpox) in a male citizen, marking the country’s first confirmed case of 2024.

The patient, who began showing symptoms on 11 September, is currently in isolation and in stable condition.

The ministry, in a statement issued Tuesday (17 September), revealed that the patient first experienced fever, sore throat, and cough, followed by the appearance of rashes on 12 September.

He has no recent history of international travel within the past 21 days, and authorities are in the process of identifying and monitoring his close contacts, following strict standard operating procedures (SOPs).

“Out of the 58 suspected mpox cases referred to the ministry this year, one case has been confirmed positive for mpox clade II as of 16 September,” the ministry stated.

“All 10 cases reported in Malaysia since July 2023 have been from clade II.”

The Health Ministry had earlier reported that Malaysia recorded a total of nine mpox cases since the first detection on 26 July 2023, with the most recent case reported in November 2023.

All previous cases had links to high-risk activities, but no deaths were reported.

Global Context and National Preparedness

Mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for the second time on 14 August this year, due to the rapid spread of the clade Ib variant, particularly from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighboring African nations.

In response, Malaysia’s Health Ministry activated its national crisis response centre on 16 August to enhance readiness and coordinate preventive measures.

The ministry advised the public to take precautions, including maintaining personal hygiene and avoiding direct contact with individuals suspected or confirmed to be infected with mpox.

High-risk individuals experiencing symptoms such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes are urged to seek immediate medical attention.

Mpox is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPVX) and spreads through close contact with symptomatic individuals.

The incubation period is typically between 5 and 21 days, and patients remain contagious until all lesions have dried up and fallen off.

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