UPDATE ON THE NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING STRATEGY

NOTICE PAPER NO. 486
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON 24 FEBRUARY 2026

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Ms He Ting Ru
MP for Sengkang GRC

Question No. 1400
To ask the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) for an update on the implementation of key initiatives under the National Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy since its launch in 2023; (b) whether time-bound targets, baselines or KPIs have since been established; and (c) how the Government assesses whether the strategy is on track to achieve its intended outcomes.

Answer

1        Mr Speaker, since the launch of the National Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy in 2023, we have rolled out several key initiatives.

2        First, we have guided our mental health service providers to operate based on the Tiered Care Model. Clients can now receive care at the most appropriate care setting to better meet their needs. We are also standardising mental health assessments and referral pathways to improve care coordination across different providers.

3        Second, we have expanded the capacity of mental health services across the acute, primary, community and long-term care sectors. We have also established the First Stop for Mental Health services, such as our national mindline 1771, to help people navigate and access services much more easily.

4        Third, we are progressively building the capabilities of community service providers through our National Mental Health Competency Training Framework. We have also trained over 160,000 frontline personnel and volunteers who are now able to identify individuals in mental distress and guide them to get necessary support.

5        Fourth, we have promoted mental health and well-being through our education efforts. These include Parenting for Wellness to empower parents with knowledge and skills to support their children’s mental health needs, and the Positive Use Guide which offers practical tips to the public to use technology and social media in a healthy and balanced way.

6        Lastly, we have strengthened workplace mental health support. The Ministry of Manpower has worked with the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council to implement initiatives that build employers’ competencies in supporting employees’ mental heath and well-being. In addition, the WSH Council launched the Handbook on Supporting Employees' Mental Health last year. Meanwhile, the Well-Being Champions Network has grown from 54 founding member organisations to 800 over the last two years.

7        As part of the strategy, we established the National Mental Health Office in 2024 to coordinate and oversee these multi-agency mental health initiatives. This includes setting and tracking population-level and programme-specific indicators which broadly cover mental health outcomes, accessibility to appropriate care, mental health literacy, and attitudes towards individuals with mental health conditions. The performance and targets are regularly reviewed. Thank you, Sir.