Programmes to Identify and Support Seniors with Mental Health Issues
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim’s inquiry regarding the review of programmes to identify and support seniors with mental health issues, particularly those reluctant to accept help. Minister Ong Ye Kung responded that the Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being recently launched Singapore's National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy to tighten the nexus between healthcare and social support. He noted that the Ministry of Health and the Agency for Integrated Care have established 68 Community Outreach Teams (CREST) to provide emotional support and service linkages. Active Ageing Centres also refer seniors to these teams, while Silver Generation Ambassadors identify reluctant seniors during home visits to share about available mental health resources. These initiatives focus on raising community awareness and encouraging seniors to access the support ecosystem while addressing the barriers caused by social stigma.
Transcript
50 Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry is considering a review of the availability and suitability of programmes to identify and support seniors who may be experiencing mental health issues, including those who may be reluctant to accept support.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being recently launched Singapore's National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy, following a comprehensive review of cross-cutting issues requiring multi- and inter-agency efforts to tighten the nexus between healthcare interventions and social support for various population segments.
The Ministry of Health and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) had worked with the Social Service Agencies (SSAs) to establish 68 Community Outreach Teams (CREST) that raise awareness on mental health and identify individuals, including seniors, with mental health needs and provide basic emotional support and service linkages to other parts of the ecosystem according to their needs. Active Ageing Centres (AACs) are community nodes for seniors and if the AAC staff come across seniors with mental health needs, they too will refer such cases to CREST teams.
We understand that some seniors experiencing mental health issues may be reluctant to seek help or accept support due to stigma. Should the Silver Generation Ambassadors come across these seniors during their home visits, they would share about mental health resources in the community and encourage them to seek help.