PAP’s new mental health group calls for policy changes to enhance youth access to mental health services  

06/10/2024
(Clockwise from top left) PAP MPs Gan Siow Huang, Yip Hon Weng, Wan Rizal, Chan Chun Sing, Rachel Ong, Rahayu Mahzam, Tin Pei Ling, Xie Yao Quan, Janil Puthucheary, Alvin Tan and Melvin Yong.

A new mental health group formed by the People’s Action Party (PAP) has called for policy changes to give youth better access to mental health services. This includes lowering the age of consent for treatment from 21 to 18. 

At the workgroup’s launch at PAP headquarters on October 5, co-chair and West Coast GRC Member of Parliament Rachel Ong said that consent for mental health services for those aged 14 to under 18 could be based on tiered guidelines. Certain services such as mental health assessments and basic counselling could be made available to youths without the need for parental approval. Interventions requiring medication, hospitalisation, or surgical procedures could still require parental consent.

“But if our young people are deemed responsible enough to bear arms in National Service and drive at the age of 18, they surely should not be held back from accessing mental health services and take charge of their well-being,” Ms Ong said. 

She also proposed tighter regulation of counsellors, therapists and psychologists working with youth to ensure only certified and licensed professionals can offer vulnerable young people mental health services. 

Chan Chun Sing: Everyone can strengthen our individual and collective resilience 

ASG Chan (third from bottom left), Group Chairs, Dr Janil Puthucheary (third from top left), Rachel Ong (fifth from top left) and Dr Wan Rizal (first from bottom left), alongside the panel of professional advisers (clockwise from top left) Dr Jerome Goh Hern Yee, President of Singapore Psychiatric Association, Mr James Tan, Chief Executive Officer of TOUCH Community Services, Dr Timothy Singham, Clinical Psychologist of Viriya Community Services, Ms Tan Sze Wee, Executive Director of Rainbow Centre, Dr Pearlene Ng, Clinical Psychologist and Education Director (Psychology) of National University of Singapore, Dr Lee Cheng, President of Singapore Association for Mental Health, and Dr Chua Hong Choon, Chief Executive Officer of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Yishun Health, Singapore. Dr Daniel Fung, Chief Executive Officer of Institute of Mental Health was not present at the event.

Addressing the over 110 activists and mental health professionals, PAP Assistant Secretary-General and Education Minister Chan Chun Sing expressed his hope that the group will promote a deeper understanding of the complexities of mental health issues, assure those facing such challenges that they are not alone, and help Singaporeans build their mental resilience. 

“Mental health issue is not just a party issue. It is an issue that is close to our hearts,” he said. “I hope we do not confine ourselves to talking about the downstream issues of managing mental health and well-being. It is also about the upstream efforts. Through our daily activities and actions, each and every one of us can do something for ourselves, for our family and friends, to strengthen our resilience and inoculation to some of the potential challenges we may face.” 

The group is spearheaded by 10 Members of Parliament on the steering committee. They include Ms Ong, Dr Janil Puthucheary and Dr Wan Rizal, the other two co-chairs of the group. Other MPs include Edward Chia (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC), Mariam Jaafar (Sembawang GRC), Melvin Yong (Radin Mas SMC), Dr Tan Wu Meng and Xie Yao Quan (Jurong GRC), Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson SMC), and Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang SMC). 

The group has appointed a panel of eight professional advisors with technical and professional expertise to ensure the group’s decisions are evidence-based. They include Chief Executive Officer of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Yishun Health Dr Chua Hong Choon, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Mental Health Dr Daniel Fung, Chief Executive Officer of TOUCH Community Services James Tan, President of Singapore Psychiatric Association Dr Jerome Goh Hern Yee, President of Singapore Association for Mental Health Dr Lee Cheng, Clinical Psychologist and Education Director (Psychology) of National University of Singapore Dr Pearlene Ng, Executive Director of Rainbow Centre Ms Tan Sze Wee, and Clinical Psychologist of Viriya Community Services Dr Timothy Singham.  

Dr Janil, who is Senior Minister of State for Health, said: “The mental health group aims to link party activists who are passionate about these issues with non-party members and community groups that either are already working on mental health or want to work on mental health.”

“There are many community initiatives we want to get involved in, and part of what we’re trying to do is find out what works best, drive different types of pilots to serve the needs of clients and communities, and mobilise volunteers and the passion some organisations have. So, there won’t be a one-size-fits-all approach,” he added

In June, Lawrence Wong, the PAP’s Deputy Secretary-General and Prime Minister, announced the formation of the group as part of the Party’s efforts to build common ground with Singaporeans and address emerging challenges that cut across demographic lines. 

Mental health has long been a priority for the PAP. Since 2007, the government has worked to raise awareness and understanding through the first National Mental Health Blueprint. In 2022, the PAP furthered the discussion with its #BetterTogether initiative.