Understanding the Rise in Mental Health Help-Seeking Among Singaporeans
October 2024
In 2023, the prevalence of mental issues in Singapore stood at 15%. Accompanying this data is the percentage of Singaporeans aged 18-74 that were willing to seek mental support, both from informal support networks (78.4%) and from healthcare professionals (62.8%).
This trend reflects growing awareness of mental health care and more accessible mental healthcare resources in Singapore, leading to a culture where mental health care is more accepted, available, and covered by health insurance.
This article from our friends at Pacific Prime CXA explores the key developments in this trend and its implications:
1. Increased Awareness, Reduced Stigma
Over the years, several public initiatives have been launched to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health issues such as “It’s OKAY to Reach Out” by the Health Promotion Board and “Beyond the Label” movement by the National Council of Social Service.
These campaigns normalize conversations around mental health, making it easier for individuals to seek mental support without fear of judgment. “It’s OKAY to Reach Out” promotes the importance of early intervention of mental illness while “Beyond the Label” dismantled stereotypes about mental illness, leading to gradual shifts in attitudes on mental health issues.
2. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic brought prolonged isolation, economic uncertainty, and health anxieties to many across the country, resulting in widespread mental health challenges and increased demand for mental health services.
The number of calls to mental health hotlines surged significantly during the pandemic period. This trend is reflected globally, urging government authorities to provide high-quality and affordable mental health services to citizens.
3. Government Initiatives Improve Access
The Mental Health General Practitioner Partnership (MHGPP) developed by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) was among the initiatives to improve mental health care access for Singaporeans.
The program trained General Practitioners to support individuals with stable or long-term mental illness that could manage the condition themselves, integrating mental health care into the community’s fabric and enhancing access to primary mental health care.
4. Employers Step Up Workplace Mental Health Support
As awareness around mental health grows, employers have begun to step up their initiatives to care for their employees’ mental wellness. This includes mental health leaves and counseling service as a part of employee healthcare programs, shifting workplace dynamics to become more supportive of mental wellbeing.
5. School-Based Initiatives to Support Youth
In recent years, mental wellbeing has become a core part of education in Singapore, with curricula that feature mental health education and numerous school-based initiatives to ensure communal mental health support for students.
Such school-based initiatives included student peer support systems, where trained students assist their peers in navigating emotional difficulties, and resilience-building programs where coping strategies for stress and emotional hardship are integrated in school activities.
6. More Challenges to Overcome
Despite initiatives from societal institutions including companies and schools, several barriers remained for Singaporeans to access mental health services they need.
Chief among them is affordability, where private consultations and treatments remain costly while the more affordable public services come with longer wait time.
The mental health service itself is also a complex system to navigate, from general practitioners to specialized psychiatrists. Many subsidized options which offer low-cost counseling and allow the use of Medisave also drown among this complex net of care system.
What This Means to Rising Demand for Mental Healthcare
While it is good that more people have become aware of mental wellness and have started seeking the care they need, this rising demand means additional strain to the system that is already stretched.
The government’s effort in training more mental health professionals and expanding community outreach will be the key in alleviating the pressure within the system as well as a shift towards preventative care to ensure early intervention before mental health conditions escalate.
Get Covered with Pacific Prime CXA
The increasing demands for mental health service reflected a positive trend of fewer stigma and greater acceptance of mental wellbeing in Singapore. However, to keep the momentum going, continued efforts from all societal parties will be crucial to ensure accessibility and affordability of the mental health service system.
Pacific Prime CXA can assist employers to take their part in providing accessible and affordable mental health service for their employees.
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