Ask me Anything on World Mental Health Day! 10th October 2016, 8pm – 10pm (MYT) on Reddit.
I am a clinical psychologist working in Malaysia. I started an organization called RELATE that aims to promote the importance of mental health, decrease the stigma of mental illness and normalize psychotherapy as mental health treatment. Other noteworthy information is that there’s a fruit fly named after me (Carpophthorella sookae – thanks dad!) and I made it to wikipedia when my paper was posted on self-determination theory’s wiki page (Chua & Koestner, 2008).
I’ve always been fascinated by human behaviour and the mind. As a child, I peppered my mom with questions about what people are doing and why they did what they did. I realized the great need for mental health professionals in my teens when I found out that a relative was suffering from a mental illness. Information was scant and help was lacking. This experience led me to pursue a career in Psychology. At university, my mentor, Richard Koestner, instilled in me a love for research and ideas. His support and guidance spurred me on to complete my MA in Social Psychology at University of Waterloo and my PhD in Clinical Psychology at McGill University.
I conduct research primarily in the areas of relationships, self-regulation and motivation. I never forgot what first inspired me to study Psychology – the lack of resources and the great need for help. Today, 1 in 3 Malaysians suffer from a mental health illness and there is only 1 psychologist per 100 000 people in Malaysia!
Ask me anything! I will be here from 8 to 10pm (MYT) on the 10th of October (World Mental Health Day!) and I’ll do my best to answer everything I can!
Will cases of forgetfulness eventually lead 2 asymha / dimensia ?
Dementia is more than just cases of forgetfulness. There are rare cases of early dementia (40 – 50 years old) but most cases happen after 65. If you are concerned about someone, take note if there are other symptoms e.g. language difficulties,confusion with time and place. You can find out more here: http://www.alz.org/10-signs-symptoms-alzheimers-dementia.asp
Keep the brain active by learning new things and doing brain activities. Here are some suggestions: http://www.alzheimers.net/11-5-14-brain-training-games/
If a person suffers from anxiety/depression should we force the person to be involve in activities ? Should we try to distract him? Tq
Hello Laura,
If someone is suffering from anxiety/depression, you can’t force that person. I would recommend that 1. You encourage the person to seek help from a mental health professional (counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist). 2. Keep inviting but not forcing. There is research that shows doing activities that are usually pleasurable is helpful for a depressed person. If a person is anxious, being forced to do something may increase the anxiety. Either way, the person needs to be willing to do it.
Distraction is a short-term solution, so for a long term solution the cause of the anxiety/depression needs to be dealt with head on.
Best,
Sook Ning
Is mental illness more prevalent in industrialised countries? If it is, why is that the case?
Hi Alphabet
There is some evidence that industrialization might increase mental illness. Some suggest that industrialization contributes to the breakdown of the family unit (so social support decreases). Others argue however that it’s not prevalence increasing, but knowledge that has increased. So people are more likely to be diagnosed because they are aware of the mental illness and there are more psychologists/psychiatrists to diagnose these individuals. There is evidence for both.
Best,
Sook Ning