A new report from the SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI), supported by the Octava Foundation, has mapped Singapore's programs supporting children's mental health.

The study, Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing in Singapore: A Landscape Brief, reviewed 43 programs across public, private and civil society providers. While it found a vibrant ecosystem committed to accessibility and inclusion, with strong momentum and promising initiatives, the report also noted some areas to strengthen, including fragmentation, workforce gaps, and a lack of sustainable funding. Mental health disorders currently account for 28.2% of the disease burden among children, adolescents, and young adults.

Key findings

The report identifies a dynamic and committed landscape of mental health support for children in Singapore. The mapping of 43 programs reveals a strong foundation, with many initiatives effectively combining promotion, prevention, and literacy, and being deeply embedded within schools and communities. Building on this, the study points to an opportunity to enhance coordination and create more seamless support pathways between these valuable services:

• Funding: Programs need sustainable, multi-year funding to deliver deeper, long-term impact and support robust evaluation and workforce development.
• System gaps: Stronger coordination is required to create seamless support pathways across the 43 mapped programs.
• Evidence and evaluation: Rigorous evaluation methods should be embedded from the outset to strengthen effectiveness and accountability.
• Workforce capacity: The specialised child mental health workforce needs building to meet demand and improve service quality.
• Participation barriers: Uptake is limited by time constraints; participation increases when activities are framed around practical life skills.
• Engagement levers: Direct involvement of caregivers and teachers improves program success and should be prioritised.
• Age skew: Provision is largely...