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The purpose of this study was to understand perspectives towards hiring and working with people with mental health conditions (PMHC). Semi-structured interviews with 25 employers and 20 co-workers were carried out. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The barriers to hiring and working with PMHC identified through the interviews were concerns about safety, incompetence, PMHC not being able to get along with others, requiring more training and supervision as well as medical costs and reputational risks to the hiring organisation. Employers and co-workers suggested that improving mental health literacy of staff, pairing the PMHC with trained work buddies, having access to mental professionals when needed, and providing incentives for hiring PMHC such as tax rebates are likely to improve attitudes towards hiring and working with PMHC. Their suggestions for the additional supports required should be considered when developing initiatives to promote inclusivity of PMHC in workplaces.

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Asthma is a substantial global health problem characterized by chronic airway inflammation, leading to intermittent symptoms. This study aims to establish the prevalence and risk factors of asthma in a multi-ethnic adult population. Data for the study were extracted from the Singapore Mental Health Study 2016, a population-based, cross-sectional, epidemiological study of Singapore residents aged 18 years and above. The data relating to asthma prevalence was captured using the modified World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) version 3.0 chronic conditions checklist. The prevalence of lifetime asthma in this population was 11.9% (95% CI, 10.83-13.12). Those of Malay and Indian ethnicity (versus Chinese), ex-smokers (versus never smoked) and those who were overweight and obese (versus normal weight) were more likely to be associated with asthma. Participants belonging to the age group of 35 years and above (versus 18-34 years of age), male gender (versus female) were less likely to be associated with lifetime asthma. Asthma was also more likely to be associated with bipolar disorder. Those with current asthma (ie, those who had received treatment during the past 12 months) were significantly associated with lower health-related quality of life in the physical component score (PCS) than those without asthma. The high prevalence and association with lowered health-related quality of life makes asthma a significant public health concern. Our study's findings can help create awareness and encourage integrated approaches for managing asthma in the health sector.

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Asia, which has the highest increase in dementia prevalence, is unfortunately lacking recent up-to-date research, with regions of Southeast Asia being the most inadequate. Preventive approaches, such as the understanding of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), are currently the most effective approach in reducing the risk or delaying the onset of dementia but are not adequately understood. Additionally, there is a paucity of research examining lifestyle and sociodemographic correlates of MCI that are relevant to the local population of Singapore. To address these gaps, this study aimed to explore: 1) the prevalence of MCI and Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI), 2) the psychosocial and lifestyle correlates of MCI and aMCI. Data were drawn from the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly (WiSE) population study, which is a single-phase cross-sectional household survey conducted among older adult residents aged 60 years and above. Analyses revealed that the weighted MCI prevalence (1.2%) was lower than global figures. Few sociodemographic and lifestyle habits were related to MCI prevalence, as only age and physical activeness emerged as significant correlates. Despite the low prevalence of MCI, individuals with MCI experienced marked disability, clinical levels of depression and anxiety, which are all concerning finds. Due to the exploratory and cross-sectional nature of the study, future longitudinal research could further refine our understanding of MCI and confirm the present findings.

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INTRODUCTION@#The study assessed whether self-reported height, weight and derived body mass index (BMI) can provide an accurate measure of anthropometric data in a multiethnic adult population in Singapore.@*METHODS@#Standardised anthropometric measurements were compared against the self-reported values from 5,132 adult residents in a cross-sectional, epidemiological survey. Discrepancies in self-reports from measurements were examined by comparing overall mean differences. Intraclass correlations, Cohen's kappa and Bland-Altman plots with limits of agreement, and sub-analysis by sex and ethnicity were also explored.@*RESULTS@#Data were obtained from 5,132 respondents. The mean age of respondents was 43.9 years. Overall, the height was overestimated (0.2cm), while there was an underestimation of weight (0.8kg) and derived BMI (0.4kg/m2). Women had a larger discrepancy in height (0.35cm, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.22 to 0.49), weight (-0.95kg, 95% CI -1.11 to -0.79) and BMI (-0.49kg/m2, 95% CI -0.57 to -0.41) compared with men. Height reporting bias was highest among Indians (0.28cm, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.44) compared with Chinese and Malays, while weight (-1.32kg, 95% CI -1.53 to -1.11) and derived BMI (-0.57kg/m2, 95% CI -0.67 to -0.47) showed higher degrees of underreporting among Malays compared with Chinese and Indians. Substantially high self-reported versus measured values were obtained for intraclass correlations (0.96-0.99, @*CONCLUSION@#Self-reported anthropometric estimates can be used, particularly in large epidemiological studies. However, sufficient care is needed when evaluating data from Indians, Malays and women as there is likely an underestimation of obesity prevalence.

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INTRODUCTION@#Nutritional psychiatry is an emerging field of study that investigates the role of diet and nutrition in mental health. Studies conducted in the general population have linked depressive symptoms with poor dietary patterns. The aim of this study was to characterise the dietary intake and analyse the dietary pattern using the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) in a sample of psychiatric patients in a multiethnic Asian nation.@*METHODS@#Participants were recruited from an outpatient clinic and an inpatient unit at the Institute of Mental Health in Singapore. Self-reported dietary habits of a sample of psychiatric patients (N=380) were analysed using DASH. To examine the variables associated with DASH scores, a linear regression was conducted with the full sample and sociodemographic variables.@*RESULTS@#Persons with depressive disorders had a mean DASH score of 21.3 (±4.2), while persons with psychotic disorders had a mean DASH score of 21.2 (±4.9). Respondents who were older (B=1.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91-2.96, @*CONCLUSION@#Dietary patterns of persons with mental disorders were characterised. A host of sociodemographic factors, and not diagnosis of mental disorders, influenced the dietary quality of people with depressive and psychotic disorders. Clinicians treating psychiatric patients need to be aware of the nuanced reasons behind poor dietary choices and provide targeted psychoeducation to specific subgroups within the patient population.

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<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>The main aim of the study was to identify the prevalence of deliberate self-harm (DSH) in a sample of youth outpatients attending the state psychiatric hospital in Singapore and to identify the sociodemographic and psychological/clinical risk factors associated with DSH. The secondary aim of  the study was to examine if different forms of DSH had distinguishing risk factors.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>A total of 400 outpatients at the Institute of Mental Health completed a self-report survey comprising sociodemographic questions, the Functional Assessment of  Self-Mutilation, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Parental Bonding Instrument and the Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Scale. Logistic regression models were used to test the associations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall prevalence of DSH in our clinical population was 58.8%. Cutting/carving (25.4%) and hitting (20.4%) were the most common forms of DSH in the past 12 months. DSH acts were performed primarily for emotion regulation purposes. The risk factors for DSH in general were younger age group, female gender, abuse history and higher depression scores. Gender and age group were the factors that were differentially associated with cutting and hitting one's self.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There was a high prevalence of DSH in the psychiatric outpatient population. The risk factors identified in this study are consistent with those of international studies which point to their stability across cultures.</p>