Mariam Jaafar on advancing mental health

Mental health and how we deal with it must be "on par" with physical health, said MP Mariam Jaafar. She said the principles of Healthier SG must equally apply to mental health. “There is no Healthier SG without a mentally healthier SG,” she said in Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 6). She stressed the need to strengthen the key care settings. Firstly, families should be able to support children with strong relationships as a foundation for mental and emotional resilience. Secondly, schools can do more to promote mental health literacy. Thirdly, the community can provide quality care and collaborate with the public health system to produce better outcomes. Finally, primary care in mental health services should be made available at all polyclinics. “Let us work together to create a society that is kinder and more understanding, especially for our children and youth. Let us work together to create a society where our children and youth know that, whether it is coping with the normal stresses of life or battling more debilitating mental health conditions, they are not alone,” she said.