Almost half of middle-aged women in S'pore experience mental health issues: Survey

Nearly half of middle-aged women in Singapore report facing mental health challenges, yet only 59 per cent have sought professional support.

In a Facebook post on Sep. 30, the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations (SCWO) said many of these women cite "feeling like a burden" as a key reason for not seeking help.

These early findings come from an ongoing survey of women aged 40 to 59 in Singapore, jointly conducted by SCWO and James Cook University (JCU).

Study conducted on women aged 40 to 59

The survey aims to shed light on perceptions of mental health among middle-aged women in Singapore.

To date, 300 women have participated.

Feedback from the participants were shared at the Summit for Action on Gender Equality on Sep. 30.

Panellists at the summit highlighted unique pressures faced by these women, from menopause to caregiving responsibilities, which can take a growing toll on mental health.

According to The Straits Times, Razwana Begum, who is the head of the public safety and security programme at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, noted that many women find it difficult to speak openly about such struggles out of fear of affecting their jobs or families.

She also emphasised on the ways for society to create a "less competitive environment" in the workplace and community that allow for this open conversation.

"Policies and regulations are just words, but what matters are people's actions, behaviour and how comfortable people feel talking about certain things," she added.

Razwana added that while Singapore performs well on measures of gender inequality, other indicators reflecting a woman's "lived experience" should also be considered.

Perceptions have changed, but Singapore must persist in changing mindsets

In a separate discussion on reframing masculinity, Minister of State for Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming said describing national service as a “test of manhood” is unhelpful, given that women are also active in the armed forces.

Drawing on his two decades of service, he cited examples of women leading in traditionally male-dominated roles, such as a fighter pilot squadron commander, a tank battalion commander and naval divers.

"We have, increasingly, examples that show women can do just as well as, if not better than, men in what are seen as traditionally male-dominated roles. They are really leading the pack and breaking down walls and mental models," he said, as quoted by ST.

He added that perceptions are also shifting among soldiers, especially teenage boys undergoing national service, who are becoming more aware of the impact of their words and actions in personal settings.

Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli, who also spoke at the summit, said Singapore has made great strides in women's development over the past 60 years.

He noted government initiatives, such as a 10-year road map on women's development, expanded government-paid paternity leave to promote shared caregiving, and new workplace anti-discrimination policies.

"But Singapore must persist in its efforts to change mindsets, and more can be done to continue the progress amid new challenges", he added.

Masagos noted that employers should "go beyond policies" and encourage cultures that foster supportive workplaces, while men can "step up" and normalise sharing the caregiving load at home.

Top photo via Canva