Participant's Voices

We recently participated in a six-year study on the causes of depression among adults in Singapore reported in the Straits Times on 22 May 2025. My wife, sister, and I applied and were accepted into the control group, after a screening process and a main interview, conveniently conducted via Teams. This saved us a trip to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). The researchers spoke with us individually and emailed us detailed information about the assessments, procedures, and consent requirements, emphasizing participant confidentiality. Following this, we made an onsite visit to provide blood samples and complete additional documentation. We particularly appreciated their thoughtful gesture of providing drinks and snacks after our blood tests, especially since we had to fast for the procedure. We were pleasantly surprised to receive our blood test results via email within just a few days. They were also flexible in allowing us to complete a questionnaire about our mental/medical health and family history online instead of onsite. Overall, our experience in applying for and participating in the study was smooth and proceeded at a comfortable pace.

My husband and I participated in the PREDICT research study after we chanced upon it while Googling. During our interactions with the IMH staff, we were very impressed by their patience and professionalism. They explained the study in detail and allowed us to ask questions and seek clarifications. It was also very heartwarming to see Pratika standing at the drop off point to wait for us to arrive during the in-person part of the study. Another plus about participating in the study was the comprehensive blood test results that were provided to us, just one day after the blood was taken. All in all, the overall experience was really smooth, efficient and seamless. We encourage everyone who qualifies for this research study to participate.