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Ministry of Health
Press Releases

PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED GUIDELINES TO SUPPORT YOUNG PERSONS’ ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

11 November 2026

          The Ministry of Health (MOH) will conduct a public consultation from 11 November to 8 December 2026 to seek views on a proposed set of guidelines to support young persons’ access to mental health services.

Importance of Early Support for Young Persons

2.                 In Singapore, about one in three young persons aged 10 to 18 years reported mental health symptoms such as depression and anxiety[1]. However, 70% of young persons with mental health symptoms did not seek professional support for their mental health needs[2].

3.                Most mental health conditions emerge during childhood through early adulthood, with one in three of individuals experiencing the onset of their conditions before the age of 14. Childhood and early adolescence thus represent a critical period where the mental health of an individual begins to take shape. However, reaching out for support may not be easy for young persons. Failure to identify and support young persons with mental health needs increases the risk of long-term consequences, such as poor educational attainment, unemployment, chronic physical conditions and substance misuse.

Parental Consent as a Possible Barrier to Help-Seeking

4.                MOH received feedback that the need for parental consent is one of the reasons why young persons with mental health challenges hesitate to seek help. In Singapore, a person is legally considered an adult at 21, gaining full legal rights such as the ability to make decisions without parental consent. However, there is currently no minimum age for a young person to consent to mental health services on their own. This has led to inconsistent practices around parental consent across settings.

5.                Seeking parental consent is important for young persons who may lack the maturity to make informed decisions about their own mental health care. However, there are instances where obtaining parental consent may not be possible or appropriate – for example, where parents refuse to consent, or where delaying services risks causing further harm to the young person.

Proposed Guidelines to Support Young Persons’ Access to Mental Health Services

6.                To address this, MOH convened an interagency Expert Group to develop guidelines to provide service providers with clearer guidance. Our goal is to improve young persons’ access to mental health services, protect their welfare and privacy, and involve parents in ways that strengthen the process of recovery.  

Invitation to Provide Feedback

7.                In developing the proposed guidelines, MOH has engaged key stakeholders, including young persons, parents, and service providers, to understand their experiences and concerns. Their feedback has shaped the proposed guidelines, particularly in enhancing young persons’ access to timely mental health support, while recognising the important role of parents. Through this public consultation, MOH hopes to receive a wider range of views to further refine the guidelines.

8.                The public consultation paper (opens in new tab) provides further details on the proposed guidelines, including the policy objectives and considerations.

9.                MOH invites members of the public to share their views on the proposed guidelines. Feedback received will contribute to the refinement of the guidelines, and help MOH develop and implement robust policies that support young persons’ access to mental health care.

10.            The public consultation will run from 11 November 2026, 10.00 am to 8 December 2026, 6.00 pm. Members of the public may submit their feedback at https://go.gov.sg/youth-mental-health-access (opens in new tab).


MINISTRY OF HEALTH

11 NOVEMBER 2026

[1] Singapore Youth Epidemiology and Resilience (YEAR) study (2023) 

[2] National Youth Mental Health Study (2024)