Singapore - Pressure at work, coupled with the economic crisis has caused an increase in the number of people looking for psychiatric help.

Business Times reported that private psychiatric clinics in Singapore have noticed a jump of 10% to 15% in depression cases, citing the economic crisis as the root cause. Singapore General Hospital reported that in 2008, 400 more people sought treatment for a variety of mental health problems as compared to 2007.

Most of the patients seeking treatment belong to the middle and high income groups, says Ang Yong Guan of Ang Yong Guan Psychiatry, as white-collared workers are the ones feeling the burnt the most.

Leong Wai Ho, an economist from Barclays Capital explains, "This crisis is hitting people disproportionately and is currently affecting professionals more than lower income workers."

With more of the population soon to be affected by the credit crunch, depression is a serious worry for some doctors as they are afraid that no amount of intervention would be sufficient given that some will choose to remain victims trapped in their own negative mindset.