Speech by President Halimah Yacob at the 24th World Congress of IACAPAP 2020

Associate Professor Daniel Fung, President of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP),

Associate Professor Ong Say How, Chair of the Organising Committee of the 24th World Congress of IACAPAP,

Distinguished Speakers,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A warm welcome to everyone, especially our international guests, joining us at the 24th World Congress of IACAPAP. I am glad that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, technology has enabled us to gather virtually today for the conference.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted our social and economic activities. During this challenging period, many of us have to adjust the way we live and work – practising safe distancing, wearing of masks and telecommuting to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. The uncertainty of the outbreak has created a toll on the mental health of many, especially that of the vulnerable groups.

Likewise, many children and youths have experienced disruptions in their academic routines and social activities. For example, provision of mental health services to children has been affected due to safe distancing restrictions. Children from lower income families may also lack a conducive environment for home-based learning. These issues, compounded by parental stress, have a greater impact on the mental health of our youths and children.

The pandemic has underscored the importance of strengthening mental health resilience among the community. Like every country, Singapore aspires to build a robust mental health system to better support people with mental health conditions.

Unfortunately, many with mental health conditions still do not seek treatment in a timely manner.  According to the 2016 Singapore Mental Health Study, more than three-quarters of those living with mental health conditions did not seek treatment. The delay in treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) was 11 years; four years for bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse; and two years for anxiety disorder.

Various studies have shown that a lack of knowledge about mental disorders and social stigma are two common reasons for treatment delay. Mental health conditions that are left untreated will impair children’s development, and undermine their ability to achieve their fullest potential.

It is therefore important that we step up efforts to protect the mental health of our children early. Let me share three key strategies that Singapore has adopted in strengthening the mental health support for our young.

First, we place great emphasis on preventive care.  Key findings from the first Singapore study on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) in 2016 revealed that about every two in three Singapore resident adults had experienced at least one ACE in their lives before the age of 18. As ACEs put individuals at increased risk of developing mental health conditions later in their lives, it is important that we focus our intervention upstream.  In this regard, I am glad that the Institute of Mental Health Singapore has introduced many early intervention programmes to mitigate adverse childhood events.

Second, we strive to continually improve our public education efforts.   Schools play an important role here, in helping to promote mental health literacy in our young. It is essential to equip children with knowledge on common mental health conditions and ways to manage them, as well as develop in them empathy and care towards persons with mental health conditions.  This is why mental health education will be embedded in a revised curriculum to be progressively implemented from next year, and all Singapore schools will establish peer support structures by the following year to strengthen current peer support efforts. Teachers will also be equipped to teach students necessary skills in building mental health resilience.

There were also several online initiatives to enhance youths’ access to mental health resources. Earlier in July this year, Mindline.sg, a portal offering resources on mental health, was launched to help users assess their own emotional well-being. Last year, TOUCH Community Services rolled out a Virtual Reality Immersive Experience to better help youths understand anxiety disorder. Youth Alliance, a network of agencies, partnered Beyond the Label campaign to develop an e-Escape Room, to help youths learn about various mental health conditions and the need to seek help early through its virtual role-play game.

Third, we adopt a whole-of-society approach in building a mental health care safety net for those living with mental health conditions. Since 2007, we have established “REACH teams”, which stands for “Response, Early Intervention, Assessment in Community mental Health”, to provide training to schools and social service agencies in identifying and managing at-risk children with severe emotional and behavioural problems.  The Institute of Mental Health’s Community Health Assessment Team has also introduced an outreach programme to provide free mental health checks, as well as training and youth partnerships to youths in the community. The Ministry of Health has worked with the Agency for Integrated Care, CHAT, and community partner, Care Corner, to roll out the Integrated Youth Service for at-risk youths to receive coordinated mental health and social support services. Earlier this year, we also launched the Youth Mental Well-being Network, for young Singaporeans to contribute their ideas and feedback to drive change in the area of youth mental well-being. General practitioners and family doctors are trained to identify early signs of mental health conditions, so that patients with stabilised mental health conditions can be cared for in the community.

One particular growing concern related to youth mental health is youth suicide. The underlying causes of suicide are complex. We must tackle it by addressing the potential causes, especially when mental health conditions like anxiety and depression may intensify the problem.

We have stepped up efforts through collaboration with several agencies and stakeholders, including hospitals, schools and community partners, to support those at risk of suicide. Such efforts include a text-based service by the Samaritans of Singapore, as well as training professionals in schools and the community to recognise youths in distress and provide early intervention. 

I have just shared some of the issues we face in Singapore in addressing mental health and how we have approached them. I believe many of you will have similar experiences to share and there is much to learn from one another.

In closing, I would like to say that we are all not alone on this journey. No child should be left to face their mental health struggles alone. Let us stand together to protect the mental health of our children and adolescents.

I wish everyone a fruitful conference. Thank you.