Presentation Information
[SY-103-03]Mental Health Challenges among Japanese Residents in Singapore: Insights from Clinical Practice, Research Findings, and Cross-Border Support Efforts
*Yasuyo Yoshikuni (Healthway Japanese Medical (Singapore))
Keywords:
Mental health,Support for Japanese nationals overseas,Singapore,COVID-19 pandemic
The speaker is a Japanese physician and licensed public psychologist residing in Singapore, providing medical care exclusively to Japanese patients at a Japanese clinic since 2010, under a bilateral agreement between Japan and Singapore. Although Singapore offers a safe, high-quality living environment, legal and social constraints hinder accompanying spouses from working or engaging in volunteer activities, limiting their opportunities for social participation and affecting their mental well-being. Efforts to support the Japanese community in Singapore have gradually developed. In 2018, over 90 residents participated in Psychological First Aid (PFA) training. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a volunteer-led online program called “Terakoya 2021” was launched to support Japanese children during a stay-at-home school holiday, engaging over 1,000 participants. From 2021 to 2022, a mental health survey involving 1,249 Japanese residents revealed increased psychological vulnerability among women under 50 and a strong link between loneliness and mental distress. Respondents expressed a need for informal, easily accessible mental health support. In recent years, cross-border collaboration among Japanese support providers has expanded through online platforms. A key example is JAMSNET, a global network connecting Japanese support groups worldwide. These efforts bridge geographically isolated individuals and communities. In New York, for instance, the Japanese Consulate collaborates with local community-based support groups, illustrating a model of effective public-private partnership. Such international and multi-sectoral collaborations are expected to play an increasingly vital role in supporting Japanese nationals living overseas, especially in times of crisis.