YCS Reads!

  IN FOCUS: Why is there a rise in new young drug abusers in Singapore? A young drug abuser thought it would be "just one time" but it spiralled into addiction, then months in detention. What is behind the 20 per cent rise in new drug abusers aged under 30? Latest statistics from the Central Narcotics Bureau showed that the number of new drug offenders under 30 has risen by 20 per cent in 2023 from the previous year. (Photo: iStock) The number of new drug abusers aged under 30 rose to 480 in 2023, a 20 per cent increase from 2022 Parents should create a "safe, non-judgmental and unconditionally loving space" for their child to open up about drug abuse, says a therapist ...

  Many teens are struggling with insomnia – experts offer tips on getting a good night’s sleep In the US, nearly a quarter of adolescents grapple with insomnia. Experts say small habit changes can make a big difference. (Art: The New York Times/Jun Cen) 18 May 2023 07:04AM With packed schedules, school days that kick off at 8am and the lure of screens, it’s little wonder that many adolescents in the United States don’t get enough sleep. National estimates suggest about si...

  Commentary: What to do about rising medical costs in Singapore Slowing down the rapidly rising cost of healthcare in Singapore requires the authorities to be willing to try new ways to solve the problem, says former veteran newspaper editor Han Fook Kwang. File photo of a patient in hospital. The rising cost of providing healthcare in Singapore is an issue that requires urgent attention. (Photo: iStock/Jacob Wackerhausen) SINGAPORE: After I wrote a piece on ever-rising medical insurance premiums in December last year, a reader responded with his own experience. His story is interesting and there are lessons for Singapore. When his son was diagnosed with a life-threatening cardiovascular disease, the future looked grim. This ...

  'It’s okay to seek help': Why do people in Singapore struggle with mental health issues? “In a mental health journey, the struggle isn't like a straight line. It goes up and down,” a university student dealing with various mental health conditions from a young age told CNA podcast Heart of the Matter. Mental health has worsened in Singapore but more are willing to seek help, according to a survey by the Ministry of Health (MOH). (File photo: iStock) SINGAPORE: Even at the age of seven, Rae (not her real name) felt different from her schoolmates.  “I was thinking about things like money. I was thinking about things like getting good grades in order to do well in life in the future and get a stable job,” recalled...