Singapore International Foundation Launches Geriatric Psychiatry Programme in Indonesia

Lawang, Indonesia, 28 April 2008 — Called the SVO Specialist Team (Community-based Geriatric Psychiatry) Project, Singapore specialist volunteers are going to Lawang in East Java province (April 28–30) to work with Indonesian medical professionals specialising in geriatric care.

The project, in collaboration with the Lawang State Mental Hospital, is part of a Memorandum of Understanding between SIF and the East Java Provincial Government. It aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of Indonesian professionals who provide care for the mental well-being of senior citizens.

It is estimated that from 1990 to 2023, Indonesia’s elderly (defined as aged 60 years and above) will increase by 414%. The current annual increase in the number of elderly in the country is estimated at 3.96%, which makes it one of the fastest ageing countries in the world. By 2025, it is projected that there will be about 69.4 million elderly people in Indonesia. Mental health problems such as dementia and depression are also expected to be a cause for significant concern in the future (it is estimated that in 2050 there will be three million people suffering from dementia in Indonesia).

The SVO project leader is Dr Ng Li Ling, a Senior Consultant Psychiatrist from Changi General Hospital. She leads a team of psychogeriatricians, psychologists, geriatricians, nurses, occupational therapists and social workers from Changi General Hospital, Singapore General Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital & Institute of Mental Health. Dr Ng had prepared the ground for the project by conducting two SVO workshops in psychogeriatry in Lawang in 2006 and 2007. The workshop participants were both hospital workers as well as family care-givers.

Dr Ng explains the project’s focus, “It is vital that health and social services are developed and trained to be able to deal with this large increase in the elderly population in Indonesia. This is why the SVO training will focus particularly on those who are experiencing psychological and psychiatric disorders, and facilitating the formation of regional psychogeriatric networks in the local community.”

Mr Michael Gray, one of SIF’s Board of Governors who was in Lawang on April 28 to sign the project’s Letter of Agreement with Lawang State Mental Hospital, states, “Under the Memorandum signed in 2005, SIF and the East Java Provincial Government have committed to collaborate on a comprehensive community development programme over the next five years (from 2005). These programmes will develop and train Indonesians in aspects such as social welfare, health, education, environment, science & technology, administration and others. SIF is delighted to bring in this new dimension of geriatric care to this collaboration and the Singapore team looks forward to meeting and working with their trainees.”