Episode 10: A Psychiatrist's Take on Mental Health in Singapore (ft. Dr Hong Lin Feng)

Across schools, homes and workplaces, mental health shapes how we learn, relate, and perform. Yet many of the struggles adults face at work have roots that trace back to much earlier in life.

In this episode of Health Unfiltered, host Veronica speaks with Dr Hong Lin Feng, Consultant Psychiatrist at Connections MindHealth, about how mental health evolves across life stages — from childhood and adolescence to parenthood and the pressures of working life.

Drawing from her clinical experience, Dr Hong explains why mental disorders are typically defined by their impact on day-to-day functioning, rather than a strict numerical threshold. She explores the rise in anxiety among youths, maternal mental health and its influence on children, and why completed suicide rates remain higher in men.

The conversation also examines how stigma, gender norms, caregiving pressures, and workplace culture affect the way distress is expressed and why psychological safety is essential for healthier organisations.