Plans to Expand Youth Mental Well-being Network

Response to parliamentary question on the plans to expand the Youth Mental Well-being Network to a broader network to tackle mental health issues across a broader range of population segments

1. Recognising that mental well-being is one of the top issues that youths face, we started the Youth Mental Well-being Network in 2020 to bring partners together to develop ideas and solutions to improve our youths’ mental well-being. 

a. Since then, more than 1,500 individuals, comprising youths, parents, caregivers, and mental health professionals, have started more than 20 ground-up projects to support youth mental well-being.

b. For example, MCCY and NYC are partnering with members of the Youth Mental Well-being Network, like Campus Psy and Young NTUC, to run peer support network programmes

2. But we also recognise that the issue of mental well-being goes beyond youths, as the pandemic experience has made clear. Therefore, we will expand the Network beyond youths to benefit the wider population and achieve greater impact. 

a. The expanded Network is part of the broader national effort under the Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being. 

b. MOS Alvin Tan will be chairing the Network with support from MOS Sun Xueling and SPS Rahayu Mahzam.

3. In the coming months, the Network will bring together key stakeholders to learn from one another, collaborate, and take action on issues identified by the Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being. We aim to strengthen whole-of-society partnerships and citizen action, to achieve a caring and inclusive society where all can seek help and be supported to achieve mental health and well-being. 

4. More details will be shared on the focus areas of the expanded Network, when ready.