Such efforts to raise community awareness and support about mental health issues in Singapore are much welcome as the country is projected to be ageing faster than any other society in the world by 2050, with mental disorders being one of the largest contributors towards early death and disability.
One in 10 people above the age of 60 in Singapore has dementia, according to the Institute of Mental Health. For those above the age of 85, the proportion goes up to 50 per cent. The number of people with dementia in Singapore is set to rise, from about 82,000 cases in 2018 to beyond 100,000 in 2030.