Helping NSFs with Mental Conditions Link Up with External Health and Social Sector Partners for Better Care

11 Dr Haresh Singaraju asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence in addition to the SAF's established internal mental health support system, whether full-time National Servicemen identified with mental health conditions associated with psychosocial stressors are systematically linked with external health and social sector partners to address underlying triggers and support their continued well-being during and after service.

The Senior Minister of State for Defence (Mr Zaqy Mohamad) (for the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence): Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for acknowledging the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) established mental health support system in his Parliamentary Question in how we support Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) with mental health needs.

To recap, then-Senior Minister of State for Defence, Mr Heng Chee How, had provided the description of the SAF's mental health support system in his response to Parliamentary Questions from Mr Desmond Choo and Dr Wan Rizal on 7 March 2024. The Member can refer to that reply as background information.

To the Member's question, in addition to the SAF's mental health support systems, the SAF has measures to support NSFs who face psychosocial stressors that may impact their mental health. These NSFs are identified through various touchpoints during their service, such as the Basic Military Training, through surveys and regular commander interviews. Where needed, their commanders will provide them support or refer them to relevant services. These include the SAF's financial assistance schemes, counselling as well as rehabilitation services.

We recognise that NSFs with psychosocial needs may benefit from the larger social support system. The SAF collaborates with partners on additional avenues of support where appropriate. For example, it works with the Ministry of Social and Family Development's Social Service Offices, and the community network of Family Service Centres to help those with added needs. So, doing so ensures the continuity of support for our NSFs after they complete National Service (NS).

We encourage NSFs who require assistance to reach out to their commanders, the SAF Mental Health Office or the SAF counselling hotline.

Mr Speaker: Dr Haresh Singaraju.

Dr Haresh Singaraju (Nominated Member): I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. I have two supplementary questions. One, from the perspective of a public healthcare doctor, and another from an SAF medical officer and commander.

At this juncture, many NSFs who do see us in public healthcare do raise concerns in terms of the social strains they face during these times, and we are aware of social partners that can offer such help. I wonder if we can strengthen the communication between public healthcare and that of the SAF during their NS time, such that we can inform the commanders that these are gaps that the NSFs are facing, and therefore the kind of avenues that we can refer these NSFs to.

And on the other front, as an SAF medical officer and commander, I recognise that there are avenues to support these NSFs, in terms of the various social issues they present with. But is such education provided during the commander training, or even during the medical officer courses, such that once we recognise these psychosocial stressors, in terms of who we can refer to within the SAF, as well as externally? Because from my understanding currently, it is not in the curriculum.

Mr Zaqy Mohamad: Thank you. On the first point, certainly, we welcome that. Today, with the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the social service offices, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) is piloting Case Connect, where there is a direct link between our officers of medical health professionals as well the social service offices, in terms of being able to manage cases jointly. So, that is under pilot. But certainly, I will take it back to MINDEF to study how we can also integrate better with the public health system for professionals like yourselves, who can also provide feedback back into the system.

On the second one, let me check on this. Because generally, most of our unit commanders who oversee our NSF troops, for example, are trained and they do have schemes and mechanisms to support our NSFs – whether they have financial assistance requirements or whether there are external things that they may need, like rehabilitation services and counselling or family issues. We understand that there are different stressors, to which the unit commanders are charged to look after. And they have access to such schemes too.

However, I think one possibility is for the mental health professionals to also provide feedback to the unit.

But I take your point. Let us see how we can integrate this better and see how we can work this through in a more efficient way.