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<\/p>\nSINGAPORE \u2013 Grow Well SG, a national health promotion initiative for children and adolescents, will be extended to Secondary 1 and 2 students at 20 schools early in 2027, before being expanded to all secondary schools in 2028, Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung announced on Oct 22.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The idea is to strengthen schools as key places where young people learn to build resilience earlier and cope with mental health challenges, said Ong, who is also Coordinating Minister for Social Policies.<\/p>\n
\u201cSchools are a major part of a young person\u2019s life besides their families. They are where young people learn and grow, receive and give support, and feel safe to step forth and seek help when they face personal challenges,\u201d he said, speaking at the Singapore Systemic Family Therapy Conference at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur schools are already doing some of this today, including building resilience through the curriculum, supportive relationships and access to school counsellors. We want to build on this through Grow Well SG.\u201d<\/p>\n
It will also be easier for young people to access mental health support when they need it.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Health (MOH) will bring existing community mental health teams into a single network under a unified framework called HealthierMind SG. This will better integrate services and help individuals navigate the system and access appropriate support more easily, he said.<\/p>\n
An immediate obstacle is stigma, and young people may hesitate to seek help not because they do not want to get better, but because they are worried about the consequences of doing so, he pointed out.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey worry whether it would leave a permanent mark on their record and affect their future; whether it would disappoint their families; and whether they would be judged by people around them.\u201d<\/p>\n
So the longer-term solution, similar to how other chronic diseases are managed, lies in prevention and managing the condition early, before it becomes severe.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must intervene earlier to help people stay mentally well, recognise problems early, and support them in the community,\u201d said Ong in his speech.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we do this well, an individual will not face these pressures alone. They can be supported by the people and environments around them, especially their families, schools and communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung speaking at the Singapore Systemic Family Therapy Conference at the Singapore University of Social Sciences on Oct 22.<\/p>\n
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO<\/p>\n
Mental health needs are rising in Singapore, with one in three young people aged 10 to 18 reporting symptoms of mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.<\/p>\n