Depression Treatment in Singapore

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions affecting people in Singapore and around the world. Classified as a mood disorder, it negatively impacts emotional well-being, leading to persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, lethargy, guilt, and shame. While everyone experiences moments of sadness, these feelings are typically fleeting, unlike the prolonged and severe emotions that define depression. In more severe cases, individuals with major depression may experience suicidal thoughts or self-harm tendencies.

Depression is not a sign of personal weakness or a flaw in character. It can profoundly affect both the body and brain, often lasting months or even years without treatment. Left untreated, depression can harm physical health, mental well-being, and personal relationships. If you believe you may be experiencing depression, seeking professional help is essential. At Counseling Perspective, we offer counselling services for adults, teens, and children

What is Depression?

What Causes Depression?

Different Types of Depression

There are several depressive disorders that fall under the umbrella term "depression". These disorders are similar but distinct conditions, and affect mental health in different ways.

Major Depressive Disorder, often called major depression or clinical depression, is the most severe form of depressive disorder. It is also referred to as severe depression, as it can have severe impacts on your physical and mental health. Someone suffering from clinical depression is at high risk of serious depressive symptoms, such as extreme levels of sadness, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Persistent Depressive Disorder, also called dysthymia, is a type of ongoing moderate depression. Though it doesn't come with the severe depressive symptoms of major depression, it does last for a longer period of time (at least two years). Someone with Persistent Depressive Disorder may be able to get by in their day to day life, but silently struggle with negative feelings, low self-worth, and a lack of purpose or motivation.

Bipolar Disorder is a mental illness characterised by severe mood swings. Bipolar depression is different from unipolar depression. Someone with Bipolar Disorder may experience a depressive episode with typical depression symptoms, which is then followed by a manic episode marked by elevated energy, confidence, irritability, and risk-taking activity. These periods of alternating depression and mania can each last for months at a time.

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a serious mental health condition that can affect women after giving birth. Common symptoms include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, exhaustion, isolation, worry, regret, and guilt or failure over not feeling a strong mother-infant bond. In severe cases, a new mother experiencing postpartum mental health complications may be unable to function well enough to care for herself or her baby.

Treatment for Depression

Treating depression is not as straightforward as treating some other types of medical illnesses. Not every depressed person requires the same type of depression treatment. As a trained mental health professional, your therapist will assess your symptoms and what may be causing them, and recommend the most suitable depression treatments for you.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the most common depression treatment options. A type of psychotherapy (talk therapy), CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thinking patterns, which in turn result in more positive and helpful thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It is a well-researched psychological approach with a strong success rate at curing clinical depression. Learn more >

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is an interpersonal therapy that reprocesses distressing thoughts, which in turn removes the negative feelings that were once associated with them. EMDR was developed to relieve symptoms of PTSD, and is now also known as a highly effective approach to both treat and prevent depression. Learn more >

Mindfulness-based therapies (MBTs) offer a holistic treatment approach that targets both the emotional and physical aspects of depression. Studies show that MBTs can reduce mood instability, fatigue, body pains, and other common depressive symptoms. Popular mindfulness approaches include guided meditation and visualisation, breathing and relaxation exercises, and yoga therapy.

Antidepressant medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can help to ease depression symptoms. However, because SSRIs can come with unpleasant side effects, we generally don't recommend them as a long-term solution. A short-term course of prescription drugs can provide quick relief, while therapy works to overcome depression from its source.

Sometimes, alternative medicine can be an appropriate treatment for mental health conditions like depression. However, be careful because some herbal supplements can alter your brain chemistry, stop birth control pills from working, or interfere with other medications you may be taking. Check with your primary care doctor before you begin taking any supplements as a way to treat depression.

Further reading:

What is Depression? - American Psychiatric Association

Causes of Depression - WebMD

Depression - Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance