S1E137: Talk to someone: Mental health help in your community

Jun 4, 2025

37:31

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Community care for your mental health needs.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Seeking mental health help at a centre near you is gradually becoming easier in Singapore as the country focuses its efforts on making this happen. But, it will take time for things to improve.

In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Dr Timothy Singham to find out more about what one can do to navigate the system. He is a senior Clinical Psychologist and Manager at Viriya Psychological Services at Viriya Community Services

Dr Singham also talked about a client who managed his agoraphobia with therapy given in a community setting instead of in the hospital. Agoraphobia is a disorder characterized by symptoms of anxiety in situations where the person perceives their environment to be unsafe with no easy way to escape.

Highlights (click/tap above):

0:07 He sought help for his agoraphobia at a community care agency

4:16 What is a clinical psychologist?

12:35 Can therapy harm us?

19:38 Where to go for help in the community care sector?

31:49 An anxiety tip we can all use

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim & Natasha Liew

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

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