The public is being urged not to assess the seriousness of health conditions based solely on visible symptoms, as many mental health issues remain hidden until they reach a critical stage.
This was the message from St Giles Hospital senior medical officer Dr Sheetal Singh during a recent panel discussion held to mark World Mental Health Day.
“I think what we are able to see is what takes the attention of every individual,” Dr Singh said, pointing to conditions like HIV and suicide, which often receive more public and institutional attention due to their visible impact.
“In social media, in different ministries, what they are able to see is the physical illness.
“They are able to see the impact of HIV because you have TV around very sick patients requiring ICU admissions. It’s very much evident.
“Suicide, because the numbers of the deaths are more evident. Unfortunately, when it comes to mental health, we do not see the evidence until it becomes critical, when patients become psychotic, are on the streets, or get in trouble with the law.”
Dr Singh called on both the public and government ministries to give equal attention to mental health, warning that prioritising conditions only by what is outwardly visible neglects the deeper, often hidden, impacts of mental illness.
She emphasised the close connection between mental and physical health.
“Physical health and mental health share a bidirectional relationship.
“A person who does not have good mental health is at risk of developing diabetes, hypertension.
“Because of poor diet, poor decision-making, substance use, alcohol, nicotine and so on. Then it all becomes a physical illness.”
Conversely, Dr Singh noted that having a physical illness can itself trigger anxiety and other mental health challenges.
“My humble request is not to go by what you see.
“You need to actually understand the whole. Don’t give priority only to the visible. Mental health is equally important.”
