Singapore is set to expand its mental health services, with more hospitals, polyclinics, and general practitioners (GPs) being equipped to provide mental health care. This move is part of the new national mental health and well-being strategy unveiled on Thursday (Oct 5), which aims to provide a holistic approach to mental well-being across health, social, and educational settings.
Boosting Hospital Care and Long-Term Facilities
The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) will be enhancing its inpatient psychiatric bed and rehabilitation capacity to ensure that individuals receive adequate care. Additionally, the redeveloped Alexandra Hospital will soon offer expanded psychiatric services.
By 2030, Singapore plans to establish two new psychiatric nursing homes and a psychiatric rehabilitation home, thereby increasing the availability of long-term care facilities for those in need.
Polyclinics and GPs to Play a Pivotal Role
Currently, 17 out of 24 polyclinics in Singapore offer mental health services. However, by 2030, all new polyclinics are expected to provide these essential services.
Furthermore, the number of GPs trained to offer mental health services, such as assessment and medical treatment, will increase from the existing 400. This expansion is a testament to the strategy’s commitment to enhancing the capacity of mental health services in the nation.
A Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health
The inter-agency taskforce on mental health and well-being, responsible for launching the strategy, has identified three other key focus areas:
Enhancing the capabilities of service providers for early identification and intervention.
Promoting overall mental health and well-being.
Improving mental health and well-being in workplaces.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) emphasized the importance of a holistic approach. They stated, “An effective healthcare strategy for mental health needs to be holistic. Rather than focusing attention on the treatment of mental disorders, at least equal emphasis should be placed on preventive care.”
With this new strategy, Singapore is taking significant steps to ensure that its citizens have access to comprehensive mental health care, emphasizing both treatment and prevention.
Also learn about Statistics on Visiting a Psychologist in Singapore: A Closer Look at Mental Health Care.
