Abstract
Singapore is a small young city state with a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural population. This article reviews the development of the country’s child and adolescent psychiatry services through the years, in the background of other developments within the country’s education, social and legal services. Research and other available data on the prevalence of psychiatric problems among children and adolescents in Singapore are summarized, although there has been no nation-wide epidemiological study done. One of the most recent developments has been the establishment of a community mental health service, which works collaboratively with schools and community partners. Some challenges are also discussed especially in the area of child and adolescent psychiatry training. Possible future directions include providing mental heath care for preschool children as well as epidemiological studies to identify disease prevalence and mental health needs among children and adolescents in Singapore.
Highlights
Singapore is a small island located within Southeast Asia at the southern tip of the Malaysian Peninsula
Following the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819, Singapore transformed from a fishing village to become a flourishing British colony
Singapore’s population is multi-ethnic, with Chinese making up the majority at 74%, followed by Malays (13%), Indians (9%) and other minorities (3%), reflecting the migrant origins of the resident population from the region
Summary
A study of such cases referred to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKWCH), Singapore’s largest provider of paediatric services, showed that the most common presenting concern was speech and language delay, and that the most common diagnosis among these children was autism spectrum disorder [4]. Child and adolescent psychiatry service The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) is the only public psychiatric hospital in Singapore and is the largest provider of mental health services.
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