Adjournment motion on making mental healthcare more accessible

Singapore can and must do better to make mental healthcare more accessible to its people, said NMP Syed Harun Alhabsyi. In an adjournment motion in Parliament on Tuesday (Oct 3), he stressed the need to improve the accessibility, coordination and quality of mental health services, as well as strengthen services and support for mental well-being and improve workplace well-being and support. He hopes that all future 32 polyclinics will see mental healthcare as part of their staple baseline services by family physicians. The Government should also harness stronger bilateral linkages across the public, people and private sectors as part of a layered approach to promote mental well-being. Responding, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health Rahayu Mahzam said the Government has a comprehensive strategy to improve the mental health of Singaporeans. She pointed out that in the past two years, the Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being has reviewed the landscape, studied gaps and challenges, and consulted the public and stakeholders. It has put together a “comprehensive national mental health and well-being strategy” that charts the way forward to improve the mental health of Singaporeans. The full report of the strategy will be released in the next few days, she said. Besides expanding capacity and investing in manpower, efforts are also directed at prevention and early intervention, she added. “Mental health is integral to overall health and well-being. There are plans in the pipeline to address mental health issues holistically over the next few years,” she said.