We welcome Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s recent announcement on mental health being a national priority (Mental health a national priority, says DPM Wong; 28,000 more to be trained to help in community, Feb 7).

As a home-grown humanitarian organisation, the Singapore Red Cross has prioritised preventative care and early intervention in its social programmes, and advocated mental health literacy and awareness through its training academy and youth wing. 

Underlining our suite of local humanitarian services for the vulnerable is the support for the mental well-being of the single elderly, persons with disability, caregivers, migrant workers and foreign domestic workers.

Our eldercare services, which include community befriending and home monitoring, provide social interaction and peace of mind to improve the mental health of seniors living alone. These programmes focus on the physical, mental and emotional health of the elderly, addressing the complex interplay of psychological, social and environmental factors that influences mental well-being. 

The other area that was reiterated in DPM Wong’s speech was the need for a greater focus on preventative care, to encourage people to take charge of their own mental well-being. 

To help our young people become more resilient, we have introduced mental wellness as one of the core subjects in the revamped curriculum of the Red Cross Youth, which includes first aid and psychological first aid (PFA) training. 

As part of strengthening community resilience, the Singapore Red Cross Academy, which comprises three centres – first aid and life support, psychosocial support, and humanitarian education – champions emergency preparedness and knowledge-based learning.

The Singapore Red Cross’ Centre for Psychosocial Support provides a suite of public courses that addresses mental healthcare, providing practical support through PFA and showing how to implement support frameworks in workplaces, schools and communities. 

We were the first in Singapore to conduct public training in PFA in 2016, and trained 5,800 participants in PFA in 2023. We empower volunteers to become rounded humanitarians, and give them opportunities to volunteer for psychosocial support work in Singapore and beyond our shores.

Prioritising mental health is not just a national imperative; it is a community, family and personal responsibility. By investing in mental health, we can take charge of our future, nurturing a healthier and more resilient population, and establishing a more inclusive society for all. 

Benjamin William
Secretary General/CEO
Singapore Red Cross