Think And Act Positive Rallying Message Of The Health Promotion Board And Community Mental Health Partners This World Mental Health Day (WMHD) 2010

On 10 October 2010, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) and 13 community partners will be marking World Mental Health Day with the Be Positive mental wellbeing campaign to encourage Singapore residents to take a step forward on the positivity front not to just think positively, but to also act positively in their daily lives. It also aims to reduce the stigmatisation faced by patients and provide better care for those who need it.

2 Data obtained from recently concluded focus group discussions conducted by HPB on the localised understanding of mental wellbeing suggests that while Singapore residents share some common views on mental wellbeing with their Western counterparts, two key differences were evident in the findings. The Study suggests that Singapore residents place emphasis on social connectedness that their mental wellbeing is determined not just by the individual but by the influence of their family and friends. Some respondents also highlighted the influence of spirituality or, that which offers hope and optimism to handle life s challenges.

3 The focus group discussions, conducted among a cross-representation of Singaporean residents aged between 18 and 69 summarised the respondents understanding of mental wellbeing, along the following five themes:

Believing in your potential and engaging in lifelong growth and development;
Nurturing a good social support network;
Appreciating and understanding self, others and circumstances;
Handling life s challenges by being optimistic; and
Realistic thinking; thinking clearly and rationally.

WMHD 2010 Event

4 The Be Positive campaign began in August 2010 with HPB launching the Positive Art Series a series of two original art installations, Smile and Sunny . Smile featured an art installation made of ice and resin. Sunny , currently on display at The Cathay till 1 November 2010, is an innovative metallic installation which harnesses natural light to reflect two positive mental health messages, troubles won t stay forever and worries fade away at different times of the day. The making-of videos of Smile and Sunny are currently available for viewing on

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheBepositiveproject

.

5 The Positive Art Series, as well as other events and programmes organised by community mental health partners will culminate in the World Mental Health Day (WMHD) event on 10 October at Marina Square. HPB aims to drive the message of early detection, rehabilitation and de-stigmatisation of mental illnesses to the public through these events. A full list of partner organisations is available in Annex A.

6 Through this years campaign, HPB aims to encourage Singapore residents to espouse optimism, or, to Be Positive to boost their mental wellbeing. Positive mental health is vital for holistic health to enable us to achieve our goals and embrace life to its fullest. Positivity also enables us to be in greater control of our actions, said Ms Sng Yan Ling, Deputy Director, Mental Health Education, and Psychologist, HPB.

7 Highlights of the WMHD 2010 event include a Positive Art Maze where visitors can walk through and learn more about the Five Steps to Positivity while penning positive messages to their loved ones on the walls of the maze. Mr Hawazi Daipi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Health and Ministry of Manpower, will be gracing the event.

8 Visitors to the event will also be able to pen their words of encouragement, alongside their caricatures, which will be drawn by an on-site caricaturist, on the Wall of Positivity . Other activities include designing your own Posi-tote a tote bag emblazoned with a positive message; booths offering free airbrush tattoos and a giant Jenga set all aimed to share tips on staying happy and positive in a fun-filled environment.

B. Positive Music CD
9 In conjunction with WMHD 2010, HPB has also collaborated with Universal Music Singapore to produce a two-CD compilation of popular hit songs by artists Gwen Stefani, The Black Eyed Peas, Mika and the 2009 Singapore Idol winner Sezairi Sezali and first runner-up, Sylvia Ratonel. Titled B.Positive , the music reinforces the importance of a positive frame of mind.

10 Universal Music is proud to partner HPB to produce a compilation album that promotes positive thinking through the power of music. With the widest portfolio of artistes whom people look up to as role models, we want to inspire others to approach issues with a positive attitude and not be dismayed when the going gets tough, as conveyed through the selection of songs in the CD, said Mr Lim Teck Kheng, Marketing Director, Universal Music Singapore.

11 More than 5,000 copies of the CD sampler will be given away at the WMHD 2010 event. The B.Positive CD retails at all music shops.

The event programme is attached in Annex B for your information.

About World Mental Health Day

Observed annually on October 10 since 1992 by more than 100 countries worldwide, World Mental Health Day is a global awareness campaign focusing on mental health and mental disorders, seeking to promote better understanding and more open discussion of mental disorders.

Media Release

For more information on the article above, refer to Media Release [PDF, 51.2 KB].