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.

Statistics released by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in July also showed growing concerns over suicide deaths among adults, especially those in their 30s.

According to the data, suicide deaths among those aged 30 to 39 rose by 50 per cent in 2024 and is the second leading cause of death among adults of the age group.

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.

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.

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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.

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."

Samaritans of Singapore: 1767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (WhatsApp)

Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019

Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800

National mindline: 1771 (24 hours) / 6669-1771 (WhatsApp)

Silver Ribbon: 6386-1928

We Care Community Services: 3165-8017

carol.ong@asiaone.com

值此周六（10 月 10 日）世界精神卫生日之际，卫生部长王乙康向新加坡人传达了一个信息——寻求帮助并非可怕的事情，而是坚强的表现。

部长指出，全球范围内，尤其是年轻人中，心理健康问题日益严重。他表示，医院和专科诊所接诊的患者越来越多，其中许多患者仍在上学。

社区心理健康服务也在帮助更多的人，接受帮助的青少年人数增加了一倍多。

他透露，与此同时，全国心理健康热线 1771 每月处理约 9000 个求助电话。

移民与关卡局 (ICA) 7 月份公布的统计数据也显示，成年人自杀死亡人数不断增加，尤其是 30 多岁的成年人，这令人担忧。

根据数据，2024年30至39岁人群的自杀死亡人数增加了50%，是该年龄段成年人的第二大死因。

医院将提供更多精神科支持，心理卫生学院将进行重建。

王乙康表示，这些心理健康趋势需要“从两个方面采取强有力的应对措施”，他同时也是社会政策统筹部长。

第一点是加强专科护理。

首先，樟宜综合医院、兀兰医院和亚历山大医院这三家区域医院已经在加强自身能力，以满足该国的精神卫生保健需求。

“新加坡心理卫生学院（IMH）长期以来一直是新加坡专科精神病治疗的基石。但展望未来，IMH需要其他医院更有力的支持，”部长说道。

此外，翁先生还透露，该机构的重建和扩建计划也在进行中，一座“更大更现代化的医院”将于 2040 年在其现址建成。

它还将重新指定为国家专科中心——并于 2027 年更名为新加坡国家心理健康中心。

“与我们其他国家级的癌症、心脏病或眼科专科中心一样，它将引领研究，协调各医院的精神病护理，并建立全行业的综合能力。”

尽管做出了种种努力，但部长强调，应对日益严峻的心理健康挑战的长期答案仍然在于预防和早期干预。

尽管国内心理健康问题日益严重，但翁指出，事情也有好的一面。

他指出：“社区病例数量上升背后令人鼓舞的迹象是，越来越多的人愿意站出来寻求帮助。”

尽管如此，这位部长也承认，与心理健康相关的污名仍然是“需要克服的关键障碍”。

他以身体伤害为例，指出人们如果腿骨折了会立即寻求帮助，但当“伤害是心理上的”时，人们却会犹豫不决。

但这并不是因为他们不想变得更好。

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Ong 观察到，这往往是因为他们害怕，并补充说，有些人可能害怕被周围的人评判，包括家人、朋友、老师或雇主。

其他人可能还担心寻求帮助会留下永久记录，从而影响他们未来的教育机会、奖学金、工作申请或保险。

他强调：“我们必须以切实可行的方式减少或消除这些恐惧。”

“寻求心理健康帮助本身不应成为一个人的污点。”

Ong补充说，政府机构必须努力解决这些问题，确保在必要时披露心理健康信息仅限于相关情况，并公平处理。

除了这些担忧之外，部长还强调了同伴、主管、老师、辅导员和家庭成员如何回应寻求帮助的人的重要性——建议他们保持开放的心态，理解他人，不要妄加评判。

他说：“心理韧性不是靠自己建立起来的，而是需要那些关注你、倾听你、帮助你的人来增强的。”

帮助青少年敞开心扉

对于年轻人来说，还有另一个潜在的障碍——父母的同意。

Ong 指出：“目前不同机构的做法并不均衡。”

拨打全国心理健康热线 1771 的人可以保持匿名，社区服务提供者通常也不要求在提供咨询和支持之前获得父母的同意。

部长表示，另一方面，学校更有可能要求在允许正式咨询之前获得家长的同意。

他敦促采取平衡的方法，告诫不要让任何一概要求父母同意成为青少年寻求帮助的障碍，并列举了他们可能没有这样做的几个原因。

这些原因包括：害怕让父母失望而不敢与父母交谈；不完全了解自己正在经历什么；或者只是需要在与家人接触之前先与心理健康专家交谈。

部长说：“正确的制度应该让年轻人通过安全的途径进入，然后在护理过程中适当地让家人参与进来。”

“在每个阶段，我们都必须以青少年的最大利益为出发点，保障他们的福祉。”

为此，新加坡医学理事会正在修订其伦理准则，以便为医生提供关于父母同意的更清晰的指导。

Ong表示，这使得临床医生能够在符合患者最佳利益的情况下继续进行治疗。

与此同时，卫生部也在为各类服务提供者制定家长同意指南。

据部长称，此举旨在改善青少年获得心理健康支持的途径，同时保护青少年的福利和隐私，并让家长参与到有助于青少年康复的活动中。

他还补充说，该部门将在未来几周内征求公众意见，鼓励新加坡人分享他们的想法。

致青少年和家长的一封信

Ong 直接对年轻人说，重要的是要明白，寻求帮助是一种责任行为，而不是让家人失望。

“你们不必独自解决所有问题，”他鼓励他们与自己信任和最自在的人交谈。

这位部长以自己作为父亲的视角，也想对所有父母说几句话。

他承认父母自然希望孩子向他们倾诉，并帮助他们解决问题，但他指出，孩子们在成长过程中会发展出自己的身份认同、担忧和应对方式。

“如果他们需要时间才能向我们倾诉，那就给他们时间和空间。当他们开口时，你不能过早下判断，”他建议道。

“在心理健康方面，耐心往往是我们能给予他们的最重要的支持。”

在讲话的最后，翁呼吁建立一个没有人会独自面对挑战的国家——一个寻求帮助不再是软弱的表现的国家。

他说：“让我们下定决心建设一个不让任何人掉队、不让任何人独自面对人生风暴、寻求帮助是坚强表现的新加坡。”

“没有心理健康就没有真正的健康。”

新加坡撒玛利亚会：1767（24小时）/ 9151-1767（WhatsApp）

新加坡心理健康协会：1800-283-7019

关怀角落辅导中心（普通话）：1800-353-5800

全国热线：1771（24小时）/6669-1771（WhatsApp）

银丝带：6386-1928

我们关爱社区服务：3165-8017

carol.ong@asiaone.com