Speeches
SPEECH BY DR KOH POH KOON, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AND MINISTRY OF MANPOWER, AT THE SINGAPORE MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCE
16 July 2025
Associate Professor Daniel Fung, CEO, Institute of Mental Health
Ms Tan Li San, CEO, National Council of Social Service
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen
Friends who came from afar, our stakeholders and partners in the community
1. A very good morning. I am very happy to be here today at the 8th edition of the Singapore Mental Health Conference (SMHC). Now, mental health is not just a national priority for us, it is something that should concern each and every one of us. Through our journey in life, I’m sure all of us at some point will experience the ups and downs of mental stresses. So this is a topic that should rightly concern each and every one of us. In fact, according to the National Population Health Survey in 2023, the prevalence of self-reported poor mental health stood at 15% in Singapore, of which youths aged between 18 to 29 years old were the most affected. Mental health disorders are also one of the top four leading causes of disease burden here in Singapore. These findings underscore mental health as a pressing issue for Singapore that needs attention. And in fact, similar trends are seen globally as well.
2. This phenomenon did not happen overnight but had evolved over the recent years against the backdrop of greater economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions. For the younger generation, they are growing up in a fast-paced, competitive society compounded by technological advances, social media use and the COVID-19 pandemic that we have all gone through. And all these brought mental health issues to the forefront, so I’m glad to hear that many of you also came from other places outside of Singapore to join us to have this very important conversation on a topic that affects everyone in different parts of the world as well.
Our vision for the mental health ecosystem
3. Now, our vision is for our mental health care system to be accessible and to provide quality care. We aim to support individuals with mental health struggles without stigma, and build a society that is mentally resilient.
4. We need to recognise that mental health is dynamic, multi-faceted, and concerns not just individuals themselves but also the people around them. Certainly, when mental health affects one individual, those around them also can be affected in trying to care for them as well. So the burden is passed on to people around them. To tackle mental health challenges effectively, we need a good combination of solutions that can address broad systemic issues, but also tailored to the specific needs of individuals and at-risk populations. We should also focus on enhancing community-based, whole-of-society care capacity and capabilities to foster sustainable care. These are the hallmarks of the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy launched in 2023.
Transition to a new governance structure
5. Following the establishment of the National Mental Health Office last year, we have transited from the inter-agency Taskforce and Workgroups to a more permanent governance structure led by a Steering Committee for Mental Health and Well-being. This Committee will build on the strong foundations laid by the Taskforce and be supported by an Advisory Panel comprising members from different sectors and backgrounds, including experts, service providers, youths and importantly, those with lived experiences struggling with mental health. We will draw upon the Advisory Panel’s diverse perspectives to shape our ongoing work in advancing mental health for our population. Here I want to thank Senior Minister of State Dr Janil Puthucheary, who led this stream of work when he was in the Ministry of Health, and of course, many of you who are here with us today who walked that journey together and contributed to taking us to this new level of comprehensiveness in our mental health care ecosystem. But there’s much more work to be done, and we have reached a point where we have a good foundation on which to build on and take these things further.
Improving navigation through mental health ecosystem
6. In fact, last month, the government launched national mindline 1771, our very first national mental health hotline and textline service. We recognise that taking the first step to seek help and navigating the mental health support network can be very daunting. There are many service providers out there, there are many different needs on the ground. So as a first-time sufferer of mental health challenges, one might be quite bewildered on where to get started to seek help. As a key First Stop for Mental Health, individuals can receive mental health support and resources anonymously through this 1771 hotline and be directed to appropriate service providers based on their needs. The service integrates traditional and digital modes of communication – voice call, WhatsApp messaging and even webchat, to cater to the preferences of different help-seekers. The bottom line is, anyone who needs help should be able to find the help they need in whatever medium they are comfortable with. The national mindline 1771 underscores our commitment to provide seamless, timely care to those who need it.
7. Mental health services in acute hospitals remain an important and significant touchpoint for individuals with acute mental health needs requiring specialist care and for those in crisis. While the Institute of Mental Health continues to serve as the national tertiary psychiatric hospital offering comprehensive inpatient and outpatient mental healthcare, we plan to expand acute psychiatry services across all our healthcare clusters to meet patients’ needs island wide. This means that more patients will have greater access to help when they urgently need it.
8. I would like to take this opportunity to announce the launch of the Practice Guide for the Tiered Care Model for Mental Health. This practice guide is jointly developed by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social and Family Development, and the Agency for Integrated Care, in consultation with many other stakeholders. The guide is available on the MOH website and you can check it out, refer to it and use it to help more people.
9. This Guide prescribes how client-centric mental health care should be delivered based on the broad principles of the Tiered Care Model. It aims to standardise assessments and referral pathways among different service providers based on the intensity and stability of clients’ symptoms, and the types of care they need. For example, if a distressed individual with moderate mental health needs approaches a Community Outreach Team (CREST), which is a Tier 2 service under the national strategy, and is assessed via a standardised assessment tool to require further diagnosis and/or psychosocial intervention, the CREST provider could refer the client to a Community Intervention Team (COMIT), which is a Tier 3 service. With the Practice Guide, there will be greater consistency in how service providers deliver care and help clients navigate the mental health ecosystem. So I am confident that this would translate into smoother care transitions and better outcomes for clients in the long run.
10. For a start, the Practice Guide focuses on the management of depression, anxiety and suicidality, and may be expanded to cover other less common mental health conditions in the future. In addition, we will roll out a pocket guide for members of the public to more easily identify the types of mental health support and services available. More details will be provided at a later date, but I believe this is a very good start and a strong foundation for us to build on.
Closing
11. Over the past two to three years, we have taken great strides to improve the mental health narrative and attitudes significantly. It is heartening to see a significant, increasing number of people stepping forward not just to seek help, but to also offer help as well. Many are now stepping forward to share their own lived experiences, inspiring others to do the same, destigmatising the condition. We must continue this momentum. Afterall, the quest to improving our nation’s collective mental health is a marathon and not a sprint.
12. Today, we have rallied stakeholders of diverse backgrounds and professions to join us here at this conference. Each of you bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to this platform to share good practices, build networks and forge meaningful pathways. As we embark on these two days of dialogue and discovery, I encourage everyone to engage actively, share openly, and learn from one another – but importantly, build new lasting bonds or friendships as we walk this journey together. Just like how our two co-chairs of the committee who did this opening together and not alone. I think it’s far better for mental health care to do things together, rather than struggle on your own. So let us reshape the future of mental health care and build a mentally resilient Singapore together. I wish you a fruitful, stressless, happy, and insightful conference. Thank you.