Mental Illness in Singapore

The Singapore Mental Health Study - a three-year, $6.9 million nationwide study - showed that more than one in ten people in Singapore will be stricken by mental illness in their lifetime. Over 6,600 people, Singapore citizens and permanent residents aged 18 and above, were surveyed for the study, which was funded by the Singapore Millennium Foundation and the Ministry of Health (MOH). Depression is the commonest mental illness. Others include alcohol abuse or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). One in ten does qualify as an epidemic. What the study did not attempt to do was to explain the causes.

I stumbled across a talk by Richard Wilkinson, Professor Emeritus of social epidemiology at the University of Nottingham, on TED. (www.ted.com/talks/richard_wilkinson.html). He is best known for his book with Kate Pickett, "The Spirit Level" (2009). Although the causal linkages are difficult to prove, he argues that the underlying data shows that societies with more equal distribution of incomes have better health, fewer social problems such as violence, drug abuse, teenage births, mental illness, obesity, and others, and are more cohesive than ones in which the gap between the rich and poor is greater.

While one can question the reliability of the data, the hypothesis makes intuitive sense. The more unequal a society is, the more there is a loss in communal spirit. People gradually lead distinct lifestyles and detach themselves from each other. Between rich and poor, there is less mutual support and communities become isolated. When social mobility is low - ie very difficult for you to move out of the bottom rungs - there is a heightened sense of injustice and unfairness. All this is detrimental to mental health, which manifests itself in destructive behaviour.

The Business Times headline on Christmas eve 2011 was "Singapore sits moodily atop wealth poll". Singapore is a rich nation, but it also has the second highest income gap between the rich and the poor according to the 2009 United Nations Development Report. Only Hong Kong has a higher income gap. I remember that a senior politician told me back in the 90s that this was inevitable. I wonder if the Scandanavian countries reached this same conclusion back then.

If the state of mental health is a symptom and not the cause, curing it may be more intractable than we think. If the choice is to create a more equal, mobile society, will this destroy the razor sharp competitiveness that the Singapore economy is built upon?

A Poll to Determine the Most Delicious Food in the World

Indridewi - a colleague of mine - posted this link on her facebook page. It came with a health warning. "Don't think FAT". For best effect, read it only when hungry.

http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/eat/readers-choice-worlds-50-most-delicious-foods-012321.

This was from a global Facebook poll. I found myself accusing this list of biases and a lack of breadth. So I will create my own list. This will comprise an instant response to the question : "Name me your top three favourite food". The instant response part is important, for it identifies the food that triggers that Pavlovian response when your brain is short of sugar. (Chocolate or Maple Syrup does not do that!) And I will allow three answers. So boring if it is one.

I will do this with two country audiences. So, deep breath. My instant answer to the above question without hesitation and health considerations are:

TOP THREE INDONESIAN DISHES

NASI RAWON. For the uninitiated, this beef type stew dish may look dodgy, but it is very yummy. To get the full effect, you have to add the condiments including a healthy scoop of hot green chilli. I am hooked. I was invited once to try Nasi Rawon Satan in Surabaya. It is still on my to do list.

PEMPEK KAPAL SALAM. Pempek originates from Palembang and it is best eaten in the kapal salam version (submarine), freshly fried, and with the spicy sauce. The best pempek kapal salam is not in Palembang, but in Jakarta - along Jalan Casablanca - "Pempek A Bing". Permanent queue, but that shows how good it is.

SOTO AYAM SELAN. This is without doubt, the best Soto Ayam in the world. While I was eating this in Semarang, I kept thinking that the correct thing to do was to buy the franchise from the owner and open shops everywhere. Try restraining yourself to one bowl. The chicken broth has a taste that is not easy to replicate. Superb.

TOP THREE DISHES IN SINGAPORE

CHILLI CRAB I have lived away from Singapore to know that this is the nation's most well known and champion dish. Everyone wants to try this in Singapore.

MEE SIAM I am not Peranakan, but there is something about the Peranakan version of Mee Siam that is just perfect. Does help that I love rice vermicelli. My Dad actually makes one of the best Mee Siam's.

KWAY CHUP I taught my sister to eat this when she was young, and she is my best company when it comes to devouring this. If you don't know what it is, leave it that way. Right mix of saltiness and sweetness is important.

Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and let me know what your responses are.

HEALTH WARNING - All the above are not for people looking for weight loss or cholesterol reduction.