IMH to be expanded, redeveloped by 2040 as Singapore boosts mental health capacity

The Institute of Mental Health will also be redesignated as a national specialty centre and renamed the National Centre for Mental Health Singapore in 2027.

People walking past a signage outside the Institute of Mental Health. (File Photo: Calvin Oh/CNA)

This audio is generated by an AI tool.

SINGAPORE: The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) will be expanded and redeveloped at its current site by 2040, as Singapore boosts its capacity to meet demand for mental healthcare.

Planning for the redevelopment has begun, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Saturday (Oct 10). He added that three regional hospitals - Changi General Hospital, Woodlands Hospital and Alexandra Hospital - are also strengthening their psychiatric capabilities.

IMH will also be redesignated as a national specialty centre and renamed the National Centre for Mental Health Singapore in 2027.

Like Singapore's national specialty centres for cancer, heart or eye, the new centre will lead research, coordinate psychiatric care across hospitals and build capabilities across the mental health sector, said Mr Ong, who is also Coordinating Minister for Social Policies.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less "The Institute of Mental Health has long been the bedrock of specialist psychiatric care in Singapore. But looking ahead, IMH will need stronger support from other hospitals," said Mr Ong, in a message marking World Mental Health Day. RISING DEMAND Mr Ong said mental health challenges were rising around the world, especially among young people, with hospitals and specialist clinics seeing more patients, including those still in school. Community services were also supporting more people. The number of youths receiving help in the community has more than doubled, while national mindline 1771 is handling about 9,000 calls for help each month. Mr Ong said Singapore needed to respond on two fronts - by strengthening specialist care while focusing on prevention and early intervention. The rise in community caseloads also reflected a greater willingness among people to seek help, he said, although stigma remained a key barrier. Some people feared being judged by their families, friends, teachers or employers, while others worried that seeking mental health support could leave a record that would disadvantage them in future education opportunities, scholarship or job applications, or when buying insurance. "Seeking mental health support should not, by itself, become a mark against a person," Mr Ong said. "Where disclosure is genuinely necessary, it should be limited to relevant circumstances and handled fairly. This is something various government agencies will have to work on." PARENTAL CONSENT SHOULD NOT BE A BARRIER Mr Ong also highlighted parental consent as a potential obstacle for young people seeking mental health support. Current practices vary, he said. For instance, callers to national mindline 1771 can remain anonymous, while community-based providers generally do not require parental consent before offering counselling and support. Schools are more likely to require consent before formal counselling begins because of their approach of maintaining a strong partnership with families. "But we should not let any across-the-board requirement for parental consent become a barrier to seeking help," Mr Ong said. A young person may not yet be ready to speak to their parents, whether because they fear disappointing them or do not fully understand what they are going through, he said. Some may need several confidential conversations with a mental health professional before involving their families. "We need a balanced approach. 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," Mr Ong said. NEW GUIDELINES ON PARENTAL CONSENT Mr Ong said the Singapore Medical Council is revising its ethical guidelines to provide doctors with clearer guidance on parental consent, allowing clinicians to proceed with treatment if it is in the patient's best interests. The Ministry of Health is also developing guidelines on parental consent for various service providers. The aim is to improve access while protecting young people's welfare and privacy, and involving parents in ways that strengthen the recovery process, he added. Public views on the issue will be sought in the coming weeks.

"The Institute of Mental Health has long been the bedrock of specialist psychiatric care in Singapore. But looking ahead, IMH will need stronger support from other hospitals," said Mr Ong, in a message marking World Mental Health Day.

Mr Ong said mental health challenges were rising around the world, especially among young people, with hospitals and specialist clinics seeing more patients, including those still in school.

Community services were also supporting more people.

The number of youths receiving help in the community has more than doubled, while national mindline 1771 is handling about 9,000 calls for help each month.

Mr Ong said Singapore needed to respond on two fronts - by strengthening specialist care while focusing on prevention and early intervention.

The rise in community caseloads also reflected a greater willingness among people to seek help, he said, although stigma remained a key barrier.

Some people feared being judged by their families, friends, teachers or employers, while others worried that seeking mental health support could leave a record that would disadvantage them in future education opportunities, scholarship or job applications, or when buying insurance.

"Seeking mental health support should not, by itself, become a mark against a person," Mr Ong said.

"Where disclosure is genuinely necessary, it should be limited to relevant circumstances and handled fairly. This is something various government agencies will have to work on."

PARENTAL CONSENT SHOULD NOT BE A BARRIER

Mr Ong also highlighted parental consent as a potential obstacle for young people seeking mental health support.

Current practices vary, he said. For instance, callers to national mindline 1771 can remain anonymous, while community-based providers generally do not require parental consent before offering counselling and support.

Schools are more likely to require consent before formal counselling begins because of their approach of maintaining a strong partnership with families.

"But we should not let any across-the-board requirement for parental consent become a barrier to seeking help," Mr Ong said.

A young person may not yet be ready to speak to their parents, whether because they fear disappointing them or do not fully understand what they are going through, he said.

Some may need several confidential conversations with a mental health professional before involving their families.

"We need a balanced approach. 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," Mr Ong said.

NEW GUIDELINES ON PARENTAL CONSENT

Mr Ong said the Singapore Medical Council is revising its ethical guidelines to provide doctors with clearer guidance on parental consent, allowing clinicians to proceed with treatment if it is in the patient's best interests.

The Ministry of Health is also developing guidelines on parental consent for various service providers.

The aim is to improve access while protecting young people's welfare and privacy, and involving parents in ways that strengthen the recovery process, he added.

Public views on the issue will be sought in the coming weeks.

Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox

Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories

Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app

新加坡心理卫生学院将于 2027 年被重新指定为国家专科中心，并更名为新加坡国家心理健康中心。

人们走过心理健康研究所外的标牌。（资料照片：Calvin Oh/CNA）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：为提高满足精神卫生保健需求的能力，新加坡将在2040年前扩建和重建心理卫生学院（IMH）的现有校址。

卫生部长王乙康周六（10月10日）表示，重建计划已经启动。他还补充说，樟宜综合医院、兀兰医院和亚历山大医院这三家区域医院也在加强其精神科服务能力。

2027 年，IMH 将被重新指定为国家专科中心，并更名为新加坡国家心理健康中心。

王乙康先生表示，与新加坡的国家癌症、心脏病或眼科专科中心一样，这个新中心将引领研究，协调各医院的精神科护理，并提升整个精神卫生领域的能力。王乙康先生同时也是社会政策统筹部长。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 “长期以来，心理卫生学院一直是新加坡专科精神科护理的基石。但展望未来，心理卫生学院需要其他医院更强有力的支持，”王乙康先生在世界精神卫生日致辞中表示。 需求上升 王乙康先生表示，世界各地的精神健康挑战都在增加，尤其是在年轻人中，医院和专科诊所接诊的患者越来越多，其中包括仍在上学的学生。社区服务也在为更多人提供支持。在社区接受帮助的青少年人数增加了一倍多，而全国心理健康热线1771每月处理约9000个求助电话。王乙康先生表示，新加坡需要在两个方面做出应对——加强专科护理，同时注重预防和早期干预。他表示，社区个案数量的增加也反映出人们寻求帮助的意愿增强，尽管社会偏见仍然是一个主要障碍。有些人担心被家人、朋友、老师或雇主评判，而另一些人则担心寻求心理健康支持会留下记录，从而在未来的教育机会、奖学金或工作申请，甚至购买保险时处于不利地位。翁先生说：“寻求心理健康支持本身不应成为一个人的污点。如果确实需要披露，则应仅限于相关情况，并公平处理。这是各个政府机构需要努力的方向。” 翁先生还强调，父母同意不应成为障碍，这可能是年轻人寻求心理健康支持的一个潜在障碍。他说，目前的做法各不相同。例如，拨打全国心理健康热线1771的人可以保持匿名，而社区服务机构通常不需要父母同意即可提供咨询和支持。由于学校注重与家庭保持紧密的合作关系，因此更有可能在正式咨询开始前要求获得同意。 “但我们不应让任何一概要求家长同意的做法成为寻求帮助的障碍，”翁先生说。他表示，年轻人可能还没有准备好与父母交谈，可能是因为他们害怕让父母失望，也可能是因为他们并不完全理解自己正在经历什么。有些人可能需要与心理健康专家进行多次保密谈话，之后才会让家人参与进来。“我们需要一种平衡的方法。合适的体系应该让年轻人从安全的入口进入，然后在治疗过程中适当地让家人参与进来，”翁先生说。关于家长同意的新指南 翁先生表示，新加坡医学理事会正在修订其伦理准则，以便为医生提供更清晰的家长同意指导，使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。卫生部也在为各类服务提供者制定家长同意指南。他补充说，其目的是在保护年轻人福祉和隐私的同时，提高服务的可及性，并以能够加强康复过程的方式让家长参与进来。未来几周将就此问题征求公众意见。

王先生在世界精神卫生日致辞中表示：“新加坡心理卫生学院长期以来一直是新加坡专科精神科护理的基石。但展望未来，心理卫生学院需要其他医院提供更有力的支持。”

王先生表示，世界各地的心理健康问题都在加剧，尤其是在年轻人中，医院和专科诊所接诊的患者越来越多，其中还包括仍在上学的学生。

社区服务也为更多的人提供了支持。

社区中接受帮助的青少年人数增加了一倍多，而全国心理健康热线 1771 每月处理约 9000 个求助电话。

王先生表示，新加坡需要从两个方面应对——一方面加强专科护理，另一方面注重预防和早期干预。

他还表示，社区病例数量的增加也反映出人们寻求帮助的意愿增强，尽管社会歧视仍然是一个主要障碍。

有些人害怕被家人、朋友、老师或雇主评判，而另一些人则担心寻求心理健康支持可能会留下记录，从而在未来的教育机会、奖学金或工作申请，或购买保险时处于不利地位。

“寻求心理健康帮助本身不应该成为一个人的污点，”翁先生说。

“在确实有必要披露信息的情况下，应仅限于相关情况，并公平处理。这是各个政府机构需要共同努力的方向。”

父母同意不应成为障碍

Ong先生还强调，父母同意可能是年轻人寻求心理健康支持的一个潜在障碍。

他表示，目前的做法各不相同。例如，拨打全国心理健康热线1771的来电者可以保持匿名，而社区服务机构通常不需要在提供咨询和支持前征得父母的同意。

由于学校注重与家庭保持紧密的合作关系，因此学校更有可能在正式辅导开始前要求获得同意。

“但我们不应该让任何一概要求父母同意的做法成为寻求帮助的障碍，”翁先生说。

他说，年轻人可能还没有准备好与父母交谈，可能是因为他们害怕让父母失望，或者不完全了解父母正在经历什么。

有些人可能需要先与心理健康专家进行几次私下谈话，然后再让家人介入。

“我们需要采取平衡的方法。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，”翁先生说。

关于父母同意的新准则

王先生表示，新加坡医学理事会正在修订其伦理准则，以便为医生提供更清晰的关于父母同意的指导，使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。

卫生部也在为各类服务提供者制定家长同意指南。

他补充说，其目标是在保护青少年福祉和隐私的同时，改善他们的获取途径，并让家长参与到能够加强康复过程的措施中来。

未来几周将就此问题征求公众意见。

订阅我们的邮件，即可获取精选热点新闻和引人深思的文章。

订阅通知，第一时间获取突发新闻和精彩报道。

加入我们的频道，即可在您常用的聊天应用上获取当日热门文章。