Thursday 20 July 2017


As a researcher on the topic of caregiving, I often come across the caregivers' recollections of their moments of helplessness in the journey of caregiving.

This has been what was felt by my extended family members when challenged with a Schizophrenic older relative who once again refused to take medication, resulting in serious mood swings and hallucination.

The feeling of helplessness one encounters in the face of caring for someone with mental illness is often multiplied by the little help, if any, that relevant hotlines and institutions could provide.

The response from the other end of the phone is always "Family Members have to do it" but when family members are seeking help, it’s precisely because they are at a loss on what to do next.

I came to realize that caregivers caring for their mentally ill family members are perhaps one of the most neglected ones, many have to suffer long term verbal abuse and even physical violence afflicted by those they love and care. They need our help and continuous support too.

You can view our course Psychosocial Wellness which covers the effects of social interactions and psychology on the health and well-being of an individual to understand more.

There are also associations like Caregivers’ Association of the Mentally Ill (CAMI), Singapore Association for Mental Health whom one can approach for help or when Caregivers's are in need of hour. You can also visit them at http://www.cami.org.sg/ or https://www.samhealth.org.sg/caregiver-support/ for more information.

To know more you can mail us at contact.sg@icare.life or call 1800 274 1724

Dr. Thang Leng Leng
Associate Professor 
National University of Singapore (NUS)
(Writer is a member of iCare Life Advisory Board)

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