The good news is — while mental health challenges persist, more residents surveyed have shown greater willingness to seek help.

Mental health is increasingly being recognised as a vital component of overall wellbeing, not merely the absence of mental illness. According to the World Health Organization, mental health is defined as a state of wellbeing in which individuals realise their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

In Singapore, recent data has shed light on concerning patterns, particularly among younger adults, with the National Population Health Survey (NPHS), conducted annually by the Ministry of Health and Health Promotion Board, tracking Singapore residents' health, risk factors, and lifestyle practices.

This year's edition revealed several key health indicators. In this article, we will be focusing on mental health. 

Methodology

The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was administered by interviewers and used to measure mental health. Cut-off for poor mental health (having a score of 3 or more) was based on an earlier internal validation study conducted in 2003.

Prevalence of poor mental health

The crude prevalence of poor mental health, as measured by GHQ-12, among Singapore residents aged 18 to 74 years was 15.4% in 2024.

Gender

More females (17.3%) reported poor mental health compared to males (13.5%).

Age group

The prevalence of poor mental health was highest in younger ...