Abstract
This article describes the remedial and preventive mental health care available in Singapore, with special emphasis on how world-views and other social-cultural factors influence the diagnosis and psychosocial treatment of the mentally ill. Certain behavioural concepts typical of the local population and significant in help-seeking therapy, especially in the area of family counselling and support, are included in the discussion on in-patient and community care. Effective delivery and usage of services are shown to be dependent on the ability to blend professional knowledge with the world-views and cultural expectations of the service-user.