Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced plans to expand mental health services in Singapore, aiming to make them more accessible to the community by 2030. This initiative is part of a broader effort to prioritize mental health, highlighted in a recent parliamentary debate led by the People’s Action Party (PAP) MPs.
Currently, 19 out of 25 polyclinics offer mental health services, staffed by multi-disciplinary teams comprising family physicians, psychologists, medical social workers, and nurses. The government intends to equip all 25 polyclinics and an additional 900 general practitioner (GP) clinics with mental health services, totaling 1,350 GP clinics under the Healthier SG initiative by 2030.
Dr. Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Health, emphasized the importance of primary care touchpoints like GP clinics and polyclinics for addressing mental health needs due to their accessibility and community-based nature. These initiatives aim to bridge the treatment gap and provide holistic care for patients with common mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
To meet the growing demand for mental health services, the government plans to increase the number of public-sector psychiatrists by 30% to 260 and psychologists by 40% to 300 by 2030. Additionally, efforts will be made to expand hospital and long-term care capacity, including increasing inpatient psychiatric bed capacity and enhancing step-down care facilities.
Moreover, an additional 28,000 frontline personnel and volunteers will be trained to identify and provide support to individuals struggling with mental health issues, complementing the existing network of trained volunteers and frontline workers. This broader network aims to offer psychological first aid and emotional support to those in need.
Efforts to address mental health extend beyond healthcare settings to schools, workplaces, and the wider community. The Health Promotion Board (HPB) provides training for students to cope with transitions, while workplace fairness legislation is underway to prevent discrimination against employees with mental health conditions. Additionally, a National Mental Health Hotline and Text Service will be established by 2025 to connect individuals with appropriate support services.
Overall, Singapore’s comprehensive approach to mental health underscores its commitment to enhancing mental well-being across society, with initiatives targeting various sectors and age groups.