SHE has been complaining of lack of sleep and showing no interest in her work.

As a colleague, you are worried.

Then you learn she has been behaving this way for the past few weeks.

You want to help but don't know how.

Now, thanks to Changi General Hospital (CGH), you'll be able to spot signs and administer 'mental health first aid' to friends and colleagues.

CGH consultant psychiatrist Dr Tang Hui Keng said mental health first aid involves teaching simple skills for people to learn how to help others facing emotional distress.

These include actively listening to those who are troubled, finding out if the person is suicidal and encouraging him or her to seek professional help if the need arises.

In Singapore, one in six people are likely to suffer from mental disorder.

However, Dr Tang explained that not all of these people need psychiatric help.

She told The New Paper: 'Sometimes all that is needed is for the person to talk it over with a friend or counsellor.

'But the problem is knowing when to intervene and offer a listening ear.

'We want to tell people that it is fine to seek help.

'We all get affected every once in a while, depending if it is work stress or family and we need to talk it over with someone.'

FIVE STEPS

There are five basic steps that an ordinary person can learn from the first-aid course.

And more importantly, it is crucial for friends or colleagues to spot these signs and provide the much needed support.

Dr Tang said the first such course was organised more than a year ago for instructors in the National University of Singapore and community agencies.

The instructors received overwhelming feedback after they taught it and now, the two-day course will be made more accessible to the public next year onwards.

It will be open to teachers, students or people keen to learn more about mental health.

The hospital is there to provide a bridge for instructors and those who are keen to learn mental health first aid.

While there is no set pricing, Dr Tang said the mental health first aid committee imposed a cap of $200 a person to attend the course.

'Some instructors may want to offer free training while some may impose a small fee depending on venue and logistic arrangements,' she said.

She added that the hospital has 11 instructors trained under the programme, while seven community instructors are available to help out.

The programme was customised to suit local needs within the past year, from a course by the University of Melbourne in 2000.

It was developed by the university's programme director, Ms Betty Kitchener, and its scientific director, Professor Tony Jorm.

The programme has also been adopted by other countries, including Canada, England and Finland.

SPOT THE SIGNS

MOOD DISORDER

• Low mood
• Low concentration at work or school
• Negative thoughts
• Thoughts of giving up
• Poor appetite

ANXIETY

• Restlessness
• Anxious and worried all the time
• Tense
• Rapid heartbeats
• Trouble sleeping

GET HELP

Singaporean Association for Mental Health hotline

1800 283 7019

Care corner Mandarin Counselling Centre

1800 353 5800

Family Service Centre

1800 838 0100

Mendaki Family Service

6561 3462

Sinda FSC

6294 0115

Samaritans of Singapore (SOS)

1800 221 4444