MENTAL HEALTH support is essential for living well and the PAP has been taking concrete action to support the wellness of Singaporeans in 2025.
At Government level, our political office-holders made sure that mental health support became quicker and easier with initiatives like the National Mindline 1771.
Our MPs like Edward Chia (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) and Hamid Razak (West Coast-Jurong West GRC) worked on mental health peer support programmes like Makan Buddies and highlighted to Parliament the importance of bringing mental health care upstream.
Makan Kakis peer support group for F&B operators
The PAP Mental Health Group (MHG) is here to drive collective action, advancing mental health in Singapore. One of the ways it does so is by focusing on specific groups in need.
The food and beverage (F&B) industry is a tough business, often with high costs and low margins. The six-month Makan Buddies peer support programme focuses on helping F&B operators, who may be facing significant stressors.
Makan Buddies matches operators with peers who run similar businesses, enabling them to share experiences and strategies for managing mental health challenges. Participants also have access to digital wellness tools for ongoing support.
“This programme creates a safe space where operators can confide in each other and discuss their challenges,” said MP Chia, who is on the steering committee for the MHG. “It’s about supporting one another. When operators are [mentally] well, they can better care for their employees and continue to provide joy to customers.”
GPCs push for mental health support in the community and for students
Our Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) MPs scrutinise and check the work of each Government Ministry, bringing in feedback from fellow Singaporeans.
On the medical front, our GPC for Health has made it their mission to improve mental healthcare access for Singaporeans.
Pushing for better access to affordable, community-based mental health support is one of the ways in which MPs are fighting for Singaporeans, said MP Hamid, who is also on the MHG steering committee.
“Beyond Parliament, we are engaging with experts, professionals, ground-up groups, and individuals with lived experiences, including patients, to co-develop solutions that meet real needs and close the care gap,” said MP Hamid.
Meanwhile, the GPC for Education has been focusing on the mental well-being of primary and secondary school students. Chairperson Darryl David wants them to have 10 hours of contact with a mental wellness professional each year.
“These 10 hours could be used for a variety of purposes,” said Chairperson David, who is also MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC. “Even if you don’t feel you need conventional counselling, you can engage with someone other than your teachers or parents—someone who can listen to you discuss yourself, feelings, and personal matters.”
Govt initiatives for immediate and confidential mental health support
Singapore’s first national mental health helpline, Mindline 1771, launched in June 2025. It is a safe space for people to seek mental health help confidentially and anonymously.
A joint initiative between the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Institute of Mental Health and the Agency for Integrated Care, it provides immediate counselling support from around 30 full-time counsellors and staff, and is an accessible starting point for mental health support.
MOH also recently announced expanding coverage for mental health conditions under Healthier SG, and will place a “special focus on youth mental health” going forward. (17 Sept)
The Health and Mind Team at the newly-opened (29 Nov) Serangoon Polyclinic is one example of the PAP Government’s expanded coverage: The Team brings together family physicians, nurses, psychologists and medical social workers to alleviate conditions like depression, anxiety and insomnia.
Speaking up in Parliament for mental health policy improvements
PAP MPs spoke up in Parliament consistently in 2025. They filed over 20 questions relating to mental health matters in November 2025 alone.
In his Parliament maiden speech this September, MP Hamid told a story about helping a resident who was a hoarder, illustrating that mental health help needs to be taken upstream with early detection and networks of support.
MP Mariam Jafaar (Sembawang GRC), another member of the MHG steering committee, continued her mental health advocacy. Most recently, she helped a woman who cares for multiple family members with mental health conditions
More information about the PAP Mental Health Group is available here.
