A new inter-agency task force has been convened by the Government to provide a coordinated national response to the mental health needs of Singaporeans arising from the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking on 10 October at the World Health Organisation‘s virtual event, The Big Event for Mental Health, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said it was an example of how Singapore has worked to raise mental health literacy, promote early intervention and improve mental health services.
The COVID-19 Mental Wellness Taskforce was convened by the Ministry of Health and the Institute of Mental Health.
It will review the psycho-social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the population and take stock of the initiatives introduced across the Government to address the impact so far, MOH said yesterday in response to queries.
The task force will also identify gaps that will need to be addressed to better meet the mental health needs of the population during this time.
Its members include representatives from the Ministry of Education; Ministry of Manpower; Ministry of Social and Family Development; Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth; Health Promotion Board; Agency for Integrated Care; People’s Association; and the National Council of Social Service.
In his speech, PM Lee said that ensuring access to quality mental healthcare for every Singaporean is a major priority, with one in seven people here suffering from a mental health condition at some point.
He said awareness of the importance of mental health has grown, but people with mental health conditions are still not well understood or fully accepted.
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Source: The Straits Times, 11 October 2020