Mental Illness Linked to High IQ, Creativity & Talent

Is there a link between mental illness and persons with high IQ, creativity, and talent?  From the many talented, creative and expressions, thoughts and ideas from a number of celebrities, singers, sportsmen, writers’, politicians and even some of our own Singaporeans, yes it does point to that.

More than 30 studies have linked higher intelligence to mental health disorders including major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other mental disorders.

Affecting some 2.5 percent of the U.S. population, bipolar disorder or major depression alone, has touched many of our greatest achievers, including Vincent Van Gogh, Buzz Aldrin, Emily Dickinson, Ernest Hemingway, and Jackson Pollock – just to name a few.

Some of the celebrities that had to come to terms with mental disorders include TV host Ellen DeGeneres, Lady Gaga, Jim Carrey, Brad Pitt and his ex-wife Angelina Jolie.

DeGeneres was reported to go into deep depression after her show on ABC got cancelled way back in 1998 while Lady Gaga revealed her difficulties in dealing with depression and how she eventually learned to overcome it.

Hollywood megastar Angelina Jolie slipped into a depression in 2008 after tragedy struck in her family while equally big movie star Pitt felt depressed early on in his acting career, and attributes a trip to Casablanca to helping him overcome his depression.

But the plus of facing all these adversities is that they all have the tenacity to bounce back and rebuild their lives.

Mental illness and high grades in education

Other research supporting a link between intelligence and mental health problems shows bipolar disorder may be four times as common among young adults who’d earned straight-As in school.

I am not surprised that the correlation between A grades and bipolar disorder was strongest among students excelling in music and language, supporting popular notions about writers and artists with regard to mental health.

Indeed, persons trying to cope with mental disorders are highly intelligent people and given the right opportunities without discrimination, they can soar to greater heights. They are perfectionists and will not accept slip-shop work.

A professional lady who is also very intelligent told me recently that my late wife, Doris who battled schizophrenia for 44 years was a smart and creative person.  That is so true as she not only produced 8 successful books but was so meticulous in whatever she did. In proofreading all my books, she could spot a missed comma a mile way.

The professional who knew I battled depression for some time in 1995, encouraged me to continue with my writing, speaking engagements and advocacy work as she told me I have the ability to express myself very clearly, can foresee problems coming on-stream and come up with constructive ideas that can make Singapore a better place to live in.

Take proactive measures to comfort and counsel students who fail or do not do that well in examinations

We have in our midst some brilliant students who study in some of our top schools and often peer or parental pressure pushes the students to overstretch themselves. But when they do not do as well as they expect, such as when they score 4 A’s instead of 5, the results can pull them down and they can get depressed, wrongly believing that they are ‘not good enough’.  

On the other extreme end, there are students who try very hard to score well in exams, but fail and when the results are made known, it pulls them down so badly that some turn to suicide as they believe that they cannot succeed in life.

In October 2016, a State Coroner’s inquiry revealed that after an 11-year-old boy failed his exams, he believed – in his troubled state of mind, that he had disappointed his parents. The student then jumped 17 floors from his bedroom window and died.    “11-year-old boy’s suicide due to exam and parental stress: State Coroner”

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has to be proactive and come up with measures to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies.  We need thinkers in the civil service to tackle problems.   MOE needs to have a helicopter view of challenges which students will face when they fail to make the grade.

Here’s what I propose:

For a start, there is no need to highlight and publicize the high achievers to the whole school when the exam results are out, because those who fail or do not score as well as they expect to, will be demoralized when the successful ones outshine them.

The high achievers can be recognized privately in a separate meeting with the Principal.

The demand for school counselors will have to go up if we hope to help students cope with the education system which is of very high standards.

Next, given that the school will have the results known from MOE well in advanced, it is best to group those who have not passed the exams to be counselled and comforted by the Principal, teachers and counsellors with the key message that it is perfectly ok to fail as there will always be opportunities to excel with the support of the school.  Parents of these students can be included in these sessions which can be held fortnightly until the situation becomes stable.

Students who pass, but are disappointed that they did not do as well as they ought to, could also have similar separate sessions, with parents tagging along.

 

RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO

http://happy-tv.com/article/mental-illness-linked-to-high-iq-creativity-talent-why-like-dat/

 

 

An appetite for kindness from Good Samaritans

Folks,

Do check out my article on the above subject-,here on The Malayan Chronicles.

 

Even though I had to spend Christmas without the presence of my late wife for the third year running, I was not alone when a handful of Good Samaritans rallied around me and brought me for meals and presented me with gifts. They all made my Christmas so special, so meaningful.

Some of them read of my loneliness through my press articles and were deeply moved, while others felt it necessary to give from the heart, which is the true meaning of Christmas. They all fully understand that recreation is so important for those who are lonely.

There was Raymond Ong who treated me to a lovely lunch at the Singapore Recreation Club, while Lawrence Quek and his wife Grace Goh brought me for a pre-Christmas dinner at an upbeat restaurant in Somerset Road. Playing with their lovable kids was such fun as I adore children. Jolene and husband Aaron treated me to a pre-Christmas breakfast before they went on a holiday.

On Boxing Day, Michael Png and some of his friends brought pastries and sang Christmas carols in my home. My youngest brother Terrence makes it an annual tradition to give me some cash during the yuletide season.

At the opening of the new year in January, I can look forward to an invitation to have a meal of my choice at a café run by a European lady who recently became my friend on Facebook. Such Good Samaritans can so easily make Singapore achieve its goal of being a caring, gracious, compassionate and inclusive society.

Reaching out to the needy lifts the human spirit. Even though there will always be people who prey on individuals’ prosperity and kindness to get money through unethical means, it should not in any way discourage us from helping the needy. This was so well expressed by reader Miss Lee Kay Yan in her letter” (“Don’t let fear of scams stop us from helping others”, The Straits Times, Dec 24, 2016).

In opening our hearts, we need to distinguish between those who are in genuine need of financial assistance and those who seize the opportunity to make a quick buck. The less fortunate in our society should not feel ashamed to reveal their heart-wrenching stories and seek help as there will always be kind-hearted people who will be moved by those who live in the shadows of life.

The media has been doing an excellent job in raising awareness of the marginalised in our society, and through this medium, many are getting the help they so badly need – and that includes having a decent meal.

There are thousands of people all over the world who go through hardships and sufferings, yet accept it as part and parcel of life. Take for instance in the Philippines, where typhoons continue to damage homes and wreak havoc to the Filipinos leaving many of us to wonder how they were going to have a Merry Christmas (“Strong typhoon Nock-Ten is set to hit Philippines on Christmas Day”, The Straits Times, Dec 23, 2016) We can all do a little to give back to society – pay it forward, so to speak.

For my part, someday when the opportunity arises, I would love to go and teach English to children of poor families in the Philippines because having a good education is necessary to build a strong foundation in life.

The Buddhists believe that the greatest gift that can be given to humanity is when we share our true stories and give good advice and support to help others.

RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO

http://malayachronicles.com/2016/12/28/appetite-kindness-good-samaritans/?utm_content=bufferc20f7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

 

Supportive Bosses raise Productivity

Dear all,

Do find time to read my article – here on Happy TV.

EnjoyJ

Raymond Anthony Fernando

A lecturer who plays the violin was once asked by his students whether he found his job interesting and if he had any hobby.  He was giving a lecture on working life.  His reply was pleasantly received by his students –males and females.

“Playing the violin is my hobby and lecturing is my job,” replied the bearded professor with a big smile on his face.

There is a saying which goes like this: Work is so bad that they have to pay people to do it.  Quite true, right?  But work can be fun if both employers and their staff love what they are doing. Then, payment becomes the icing on the cake.  Ultimately, a manager’s success is directly related to how well he/she leads and connects with the staff under their charge.

Today’s work culture, unlike the early years, is far more stressful and with stiff competition and Singaporeans having to compete with foreigners for jobs, there is a tendency for workers to be anxious and at times back-biting colleagues to move up rapidly up the corporate ladder.

Employer-employee relations can be tricky and at times, subordinates who lose out on promotions can be de-motivated, what more with office politics not being uncommon, and some bosses regrettably tend to favor certain staff.  For as human beings, we all have our ‘little favorites’. 

But before we can secure strong boss-employee relations, it is just as important to have inculcated a healthy and cooperative working culture amongst ALL employees.  This is because many full-time employees spend most of their working hours with co-workers than they do with their spouses and families. As such, it is important to allow employees the opportunity to build quality relationships with their co-workers. This can be accomplished through the organization of informal get-togethers away from work, as well as by encouraging employee interaction.

During my employment with the local TV and Radio station, the management organized tea sessions at all departments.

That is why it is not advisable to engage in gossip at the workplace. Rather, as workers, we have to build a good rapport with our superiors. Once a healthy relationship develops between the manager and his /her staff, productivity goes up and the company benefits.

Healthy working relationships during our career can help retirees to secure job opportunities on a full-time or part-time basis.  I have benefited tremendously from my past relationships with my broadcasting colleagues in the 60s’, 70s’ and 80s’ and very uplifted that today, even at 66 years, I have writing opportunities in a media company to contribute to the literary culture here in Singapore.  For if anyone enjoys what they are doing, they can be very productive.  And I enjoy writing so much.

 

RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO

http://happy-tv.com/article/supportive-bosses-raise-productivity-why-like-dat/

 

Letter to The Sunday Times: Various ways to manage stress, anger

My letter to The Sunday Times is published today, Sunday 25^th Dec 2016.

The number of road rage incidents in Singapore – 75 last year, 69 in 2014 and 90 in 2013 – is cause for concern (“Why are we so angry on the road?”; Dec 18).

It is important to bear in mind that when people are unable to manage their anger on the roads, it may spill over into their homes, resulting in destructive relationships.

Many people are bound to lose their cool at some point in time, especially in such a fast-paced society.

Bosses and supervisors have a role to play in ensuring that their staff are not overwhelmed by work stress, and should encourage employees to approach them or human resource staff when they are unable to cope.

It would be useful for companies to incorporate meditation sessions into their healthy lifestyle programmes.

 

Meditation is an excellent way to calm the mind and body. Breathing techniques can also help to relieve some of the stress.

Community centres should organise such programmes to reach out to those who are not able to attend such sessions at the workplace.

Time management is vital, for when we are late for anything, there is a tendency to lose our cool.

Drivers should listen to soothing music, such as jazz or classical tunes, to calm themselves, rather than loud or aggressive music.

Raymond Anthony Fernando

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-in-print/various-ways-to-manage-stress-anger

 

Bouquets to the Buddhist: By: Raymond Anthony Fernando

The Buddhists worship Buddha, and their teachings always have in mind the needy that are very much in need of compassion and to be freed from suffering. Many of the Chinese here are Buddhists, although there are other races such as Indians and even Africans in Africa who embrace Buddhism.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong rightly paid tribute to Buddhists, the largest religious group here for helping the needy, fund scholarships and bursaries and fostering racial and religious harmony when he officiated at the opening of the new Buddhist College in Bright Hill Road in Bishan.

I admire the statue of Buddha and am glad that his teachings have molded caring and kind-hearted citizens to engage in charity work – both in Singapore and many parts of the world.

What has struck me most about the Buddhist who put into full use the teachings of Buddha is their humility.  And I was privileged to learn useful lessons in humility what I got to know of the wonderful work which the Tzu Chi Foundation does–worldwide.  So impressed by thousands across the globe, many people have become volunteers of this Buddhist Charity who never fail to help in relief efforts by rebuilding homes destroyed by natural disasters in many countries like the Philippines and in Sri Lanka.  

Dharma Master Cheng Yen, a Buddhist nun on 14 May 1966 in Hualien, Taiwan, founded the Tzi Chi Foundation. Inspired by her master and mentor the late Vulnerable Master Yin Shun, this nun was so moved by the poverty and lack of services in Taiwan that she decided to set up the charity, Tzi Chi Foundation.

From their humble beginnings, this group has expanded to become a major civil society actor with approximately 10 million members and chapters in 47 countries worldwide.

Tzi Chi, which does not use its religion to influence all races and religions, has hundreds of doctors who volunteer their time to care for the sick in many parts of the world.  Besides doing charity work, the Foundation is also actively saving the environment through their on-going recycling programs in Singapore and in other nations.

So let’s take lessons from the Buddhist teachings to learn of humility to order to make this a better world.

 

RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO

http://happy-tv.com/article/bouquets-to-the-buddhist-why-like-dat/

Press letter: Motorists should get extra insurance cover for mishaps

My letter to MediaCorp’s TODAY newspaper on the above matter is published today, Tuesday 20^th December 2016.

Ensuring that our motorists exercise caution and obey traffic rules is necessary, given the many accidents on our roads, some resulting in death or serious injury.

To this end, I support the call for long-time motorists to take a refresher safe driving course (“Hold a refresher safe driving course for veteran motorists”; Dec 17).

Besides this, motorists, including riders, must be mindful of flooding and fallen trees, which could injure them or their passengers, and damage their vehicles. With ageing trees and climate change, an accident could occur when one least expects it.

All motorists have insurance cover for their vehicles, but how many would buy insurance that compensates them if their vehicles get damaged?

They may want to save costs by only taking up accident insurance, or they may be unaware that floods or fallen trees are not covered by accident insurance.

Recently, a motorist had a narrow escape when a tree fell on his van along Upper Aljunied Road and crushed it. Other motorists have been in a similar predicament too.

Drivers cannot claim compensation for such mishaps unless they got additional cover for such mishaps when they bought their accident insurance. The additional sum can be only S$50 or so.

RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO

http://www.todayonline.com/voices/motorists-should-get-extra-insurance-cover-mishaps

Act on ideas to help those who fall through the cracks: Raymond Anthony Fernando’s letter to the press

My letter on the above subject is published in the Sunday Times, today, Sunday 18^th Dec 2016.

Mr Francis Cheng ("Consider allowing inmates conjugal visits, private time with families"; Dec 11) and Mr Kuharajahsingam Karalasingam ("More work needed in caring for the marginalised"; Dec 11) were right in pointing out that many of those who are marginalised and fall through the cracks are not receiving sufficient support and help.

I fully agree that allowing inmates conjugal visits or private time with their families can help to strengthen the bond between them.

Why not allow inmates and their families to communicate with each other via computer, such as e-mail messages, three or four times a week?

I also applaud Mr Karalasingam for his suggestion to set up a national committee to rally around those who fall through the cracks so that these people can live with dignity.

With Christmas around the corner and a new year in sight, I hope we will also spare a thought for the mentally ill, their caregivers and the lonely elderly who are isolated from society and feel unloved.

No one should have to suffer a "blue" Christmas.

Raymond Anthony Fernando

http://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-in-print/act-on-ideas-to-help-those-who-fall-through-the-cracks