Update on Youth Mental Well-being Network

27 Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth whether the Ministry can provide an update on the Youth Mental Well-being Network, especially on its plans to expand to a broader network to tackle mental health issues across a broader range of population segments.

Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: Recognising that mental well-being is one of the top issues that youths face, we started the Youth Mental Well-being Network in 2020 to bring partners together to develop ideas and solutions to improve our youths’ mental well-being.

Since then, more than 1,500 individuals, comprising youths, parents, caregivers and mental health professionals have started more than 20 ground-up projects to support youth mental well-being.

For example, MCCY and the National Youth Council (NYC) are partnering members of the Youth Mental Well-being Network, like Campus Psy and Young NTUC, to run peer support network programmes.

But we also recognise that the issue of mental well-being goes beyond youths, as the pandemic experience has made clear. Therefore, we will expand the network beyond youths to benefit the wider population and achieve greater impact.

The expanded network is part of the broader national effort under the Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being.

Minister of State Alvin Tan will be chairing the network with support from Minister of State Sun Xueling and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu Mahzam.

In the coming months, the Network will bring together key stakeholders to learn from one another, collaborate and take action on issues identified by the Interagency Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-being. We aim to strengthen whole-of-society partnerships and citizen action, to achieve a caring and inclusive society where all can seek help and be supported to achieve mental health and well-being.

More details will be shared on the focus areas of the expanded network, when ready.