Four community mental health schemes will merge into a single network called HealthierMind SG, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung confirmed in a speech on Thursday, 22 October at the 2nd Singapore Systemic Family Therapy Conference at SUSS.
One network instead of four
CREST, COMIT, CREST-Youth and YIT will come under HealthierMind SG. CREST supports people with early symptoms and COMIT those with moderate conditions, while CREST-Youth and YIT serve young people. The network will have one framework, one set of key performance indicators and funding with a stable baseline. MOH and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) will manage the transition with community organisations over the coming months.
Schools as a first stop
One in three young people aged 10 to 18 report symptoms of mental health conditions. Schools will triage students who need help. Less severe cases will go to community organisations rather than to the Institute of Mental Health.
Grow Well SG, the health programme run by MOH, MOE and MSF, will extend to Secondary 1 and 2. Twenty schools start in early 2027 and all secondary schools follow in 2028, with personalised health plans that focus on resilience.
Consent rules for young people
MOH is drafting guidelines on parental consent for young people seeking help, covering mindline 1771, schools, community services and healthcare providers. Practice now differs across these services. A public consultation will follow the draft.
A bigger role for GPs
Family doctors will take on more mental health care, building on the Healthier SG care protocols for major depressive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder introduced last year. Healthier SG GP clinics have also been paired with community mental health providers for follow-up care.
Jobs and the law
Public agencies do not ask job applicants to declare mental health conditions unless the role requires it, as with Republic of Singapore Air Force pilots. The Workplace Fairness Act, which takes effect later next year, bars employers from adverse decisions based on mental health conditions.
The conference, which runs from 21 to 23 October, also marks the 60th anniversary of the Counselling and Care Centre. The centre will offer 60 training places for counselling professionals in the community.
