Gender and Age Profiles of Community Intervention Team Clients

58 Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what percentage of Community Intervention Team clients are male; (b) what is the number of males in the age range of (i) below 20 (ii) 20-35 (iii) 35-60 and (iv) above 60; (c) what are the common presenting mental health or psychosocial issues affecting males; and (d) what targeted strategies are in place to improve help-seeking behaviour amongst men.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: In FY2024, the Community Intervention Team (COMIT) supported over 16,000 clients. About 35% of them were males, 2% were aged between 18 and 19, 30% were between 20 and 34, 41% were between 35 and 60, and 27% were above 60.

They commonly presented with symptoms of depressive and anxiety disorders.

To improve help-seeking, we have established various access points for mental health services, to facilitate access to other necessary mental health services. These include the national mindline 1771, self-help digital portal mindline.sg and in-person services through Community Outreach Teams. These are complemented by efforts to combat stigma and normalise health-seeking through public education campaigns.