Seeking help is a sign of strength, says Ong Ye Kung as Singapore steps up mental health support

In light of World Mental Health Day on Saturday (Oct 10), Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung has a message for Singaporeans — seeking help is not something to fear, but a sign of strength. 

Noting the rise of mental health challenges globally, particularly in young people, the minister shared that hospitals and specialist clinics are seeing more patients, including many who are still in school. 

Community mental health services are also supporting more people, with the number of youths receiving help more than doubling. 

The national mindline 1771, meanwhile, handles around 9,000 calls for help every month, he revealed. 

Hospitals to provide more psychiatric support, IMH to be redeveloped 

These mental health trends require “strong responses from two fronts”, said Ong, who is also Coordinating Minister for Social Policies.

The first involves strengthening specialist care. 

For starters, three regional hospitals — Changi General Hospital, Woodlands Hospital and Alexandra Hospital — are already in the process of reinforcing their capabilities to support the country’s mental healthcare needs. 

“The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) has long been the bedrock of specialist psychiatric care in Singapore. But looking ahead, IMH will need stronger support from other hospitals,” said the minister. 

In addition, Ong shared that plans to redevelop and expand the institution are also underway, with a “bigger and more modern hospital” set to be completed at its present site by 2040. 

It will also be redesignated as a national specialty centre — taking on a new name as the National Centre for Mental Health Singapore in 2027. 

“Like our other national specialty centres for cancer, heart, or eye, it will lead research, coordinate psychiatric care across hospitals and build sector-wide capabilities.”

Though despite the efforts, the minister urged that the long-term answer to the rising mental health challenges still lies in prevention and early intervention. 

Shedding the stigma 

Despite the mounting number of mental health challenges in the nation, Ong pointed out that there was a silver lining. 

“The encouraging sign behind rising community caseloads is that more people are willing to step forward to seek help,” he noted. 

That being said, the minister acknowledged that the stigma attached to mental health remains a “key barrier to overcome”. 

Drawing a comparison with physical injuries, he said that while people would seek help readily for a broken leg, they hesitate when “the injury is psychological”. 

But it is not because they do not wish to get better. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DY_SWOwvIN5/

Rather, it is often because they are afraid, Ong observed, adding that some may fear being judged by those around them, including family, friends, teachers or employers.

Others may also worry that seeking help could leave a permanent record that might affect their future education opportunities, scholarships, job applications or insurance. 

“We must reduce or remove these fears in practical ways,” he stressed. 

“Seeking mental health support should not, by itself, become a mark against a person.” 

Ong added that government agencies would have to work towards addressing these concerns by ensuring that disclosure of mental health information, where necessary, is limited to relevant circumstances and handled fairly. 

Beyond these concerns, the minister also emphasised the importance of how peers, supervisors, teachers, counsellors and family members respond to someone reaching out — advising them to keep an open mind, be understanding and non-judgmental. 

“Mental resilience is not built alone, it is strengthened by people who notice, listen and help,” he said. 

Helping youths open up 

For young people, there is another potential obstacle — parental consent. 

“The current practice is uneven across settings,” highlighted Ong. 

Callers to national mindline 1771 can remain anonymous, and community-based service providers also generally do not require parental consent before offering counselling and support. 

Schools, on the other hand, are more likely to require parental consent before allowing formal counselling, according to the minister. 

Urging a balanced approach, he cautioned against allowing any blanket requirement for parental consent to become a barrier to youths seeking help, listing several reasons about why they may not have done so. 

These include not being ready to speak to their parents out of fear of disappointing them, not fully understanding what they are going through, or simply needing to speak with a mental health professional before involving their families. 

“The right system is one that lets a young person enter through a safe door, and then involve the family appropriately as the care journey progresses,” said the minister. 

“At every stage, we must act in the young person’s best interests and safeguard his or her well-being.” 

To this end, the Singapore Medical Council is revising its ethical guidelines to provide doctors with clearer guidance on parental consent. 

This allows clinicians to proceed with treatment if it is in the best interests of the patient, Ong shared. 

At the same time, the Ministry of Health is also developing guidelines on parental consent for various service providers. 

According to the minister, the aim is to improve access to mental health support while protecting youths’ welfare and privacy, and involve parents in ways that help with recovery. 

He added that the ministry will also be seeking public views in the coming weeks, encouraging Singaporeans to share their input. 

[[nid:745750]]

A message to youths and parents

Addressing youths directly, Ong said it is important to know that asking for help is an act of responsibility, and not a disappointment to their families. 

“You do not need to work everything out by yourself,” he said, encouraging them to speak to someone they trust and are most comfortable with. 

Drawing on his own perspective as a parent, the minister also has a message for mums and dads out there.

While acknowledging that parents naturally want their children to confide in them and help solve their problems, he pointed out that children develop their own identities, worries and ways of coping as they grow. 

“If they need time before confiding in us, give them that time and space. When they do speak, you can’t judge too early,” he advised.

“When it comes to mental health, patience is often the most important support we can give them.”

Concluding his message, Ong called for a nation where no one is left to face challenges alone — and one where reaching out is not a sign of weakness. 

“Let us resolve to build a Singapore where no one should be left behind, to face life’s storms alone, and seeking help is a sign of strength,” he said. 

“There is no health without mental health.” 

[[nid:728015]]

carol.ong@asiaone.com