October 1999
Bulletin Issue 2
(for internal circulation to members only)

SPA-AM Combined Scientific Meeting

Dear Members,

SPA held its scientific meeting this year conjointly with the Academy of Medicine, Chapter of Psychiatrists at the College of Medicine from 5-6 June 1999. The following is the text from the guest of honour Mr S Vasoo, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC.

1. Mental health services must be constantly appraised by mental health    professionals to ensure that it is not displaced from one of its main function which emphasizes the preventive role. There is a growing danger that mental health services can gravitate towards a remedial orientation. When this happens it becomes more ineffective to deal with the primary focus of mental health. In this case, the prevention of mental ill health is given less priority and resources. In the longer term mental health services become more expensive and less effective.

2. I am sure you will generally agree with me that mental health services must be proactive and responsive to the social and ecological changes in our society. In this respect, there are a number of areas for mental health professionals to direct their attention.

3. First, we must begin to identify the early development of problems amongst children. Early diagnosis of mental health problems of children will be useful for planning appropriate intervention strategies to help children to develop good problem solving skills. Here, schools and child care agencies can play a key role in identifying children who need help. Young parents can be enlightened to take early steps for help.
   
   
4. Second, the increasing reports of youth violence have to be examine more closely so that we can appreciate the causes of such a problem. Only when the genesis of this problem is fully understood it would be difficult for mental health professionals to suggest effective remedial and preventive measures. Perhaps our young can be trained to resolve their conflicts through mediation. Mental health professionals can take a lead to help schools to run more training workshops on peer mediation and conflict resolution.
   
   
5. Third, as our population ages in the next ten to twenty years, mental healthprofessionals must begin to identify the significant mental health problems and issues faced by our elderly. It is anticipated that there will be more elderly who will be affected by loneliness and depression as well as dementia. Such consequences will affect the mental health of the family as well. It is therefore urgent for mental health professionals to provide services to help in the social integration of the elderly population.
   
   
6. Fourth, there is a notable increase in marital breakdowns and conflicts in our society. In this area, mental health professionals can look into the mplications of the marital conflicts on the lives of children. Few local studies have been conducted regarding the social and psychological effects of parental divorce on children. It is important for mental health professionals to carry out research into this area. Also, more mental health services such as crisis counseling, child protection and family mediation be provided through the family courts in partnership with family service agencies.
   
   
7. Fifth, there appears to be a lack of community based services for the rehabilitation of patients who have been discharged from psychiatric hospitals. Many of these discharged patients do not have sufficient support to help them to integrate into the community. The development of a mentoring or befriending scheme could be explored. Such a program can help to prevent their relapse and hospitalization.
   
   
8. In conclusion, there are many new challenges for mental health professionals and it is important for all of us to be proactive in identifying the impacts, of various social and economic changes, negative lifestyles, value conflicts, misinformation, demographic transitions and ineffective parenting. When these issues are fully diagnosed, we can implement preventive and effective measures. Mental health professionals must also upgrade their skills.

8^th Congress of ASEAN Federation for Psychiatry and Mental Health, ASEAN Forum on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2001

16-18 March 2001

The next ASEAN Psychiatric Congress will be held from 16-18 March 2001 in Singapore.

The members of the organising committee are as follows:

Chairman: Dr Kok Lee Peng

Vice-Chairman: Dr Yap Hwa Ling

Vice-Chairman & Incumbent President: Dr Ng Li-Ling

Honorary Secretary: Dr Calvin Fones

Honorary Treasurer: Dr Chua Hong Choon

Chairman of Forum on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Dr Sharon Chan

Scientific Sub-committee: Dr Rathi Mahendran

Publicity sub-committee: Dr Simon Siew

Social Sub-committee: Dr Ang Yong Guan

Facilities Sub-committee: Dr Chan Keen Loong & Angelina Chan