THOUSANDS of people, including doctors, teachers and social workers, will be trained to pick up early signs of mental distress.

They will also learn how to give continuing care and support to people with mental illness, and help them re-integrate into society.

Almost half of the $88 million the Health Ministry will spend on fighting mental illness in the next five years will go into such community care.

Ms Yong Ying-I, the ministry's permanent secretary who chaired a multi-ministerial committee on mental health on Monday, said this would be a more effective way to tackle the expected rise in mental illness.

She said: 'It is better to handle the problems in the community than have these people go to hospital or the Institute of Mental Health.'

In an indication of how seriously the ministry views mental disorders, it is making psychiatric posting compulsory for all new doctors so that they will be able to treat such patients effectively.

Ms Yong added that practising GPs can also upgrade their skills with a graduate diploma in psychiatry. While not all GPs can be experts in all areas, they can at least identify the problem and get help for their patients, she said.

Mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, addiction or dementia, is a growing problem facing all developed countries. Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has said that Singapore is no exception.

Studies and experiences both here and around the world have clearly shown that early treatment can shorten the period of illness, or at least, to keep it a milder problem.

Speaking to the media after opening the IMH Carnival and Exhibition at Vivocity on Monday, Ms Yong said the actual amount being spent will be a lot more than $40 million from the ministry.

This is because it will work with partners such as employers, schools, the military, voluntary organisations and the People's Association, who will also contribute, she said.

To ensure that no segment of the population is left out, the money from the ministry will be used to help four distinct groups of people: children, youth, adults and the elderly.

Institute of Mental Health (IMH) chief Leong Yew Meng said mental problems affect one in four adults, and one in eight children aged six to 12 in Singapore.

Those above 60 years old have an added problem, with 5.6 per cent affected by dementia, or loss of memory.