Programme

08:30 - 08:35

Opening Remarks by Benedict Cheong, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Temasek Foundation

08:35 - 08:45

Keynote Speech by Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, Republic of Singapore

08:45 - 09:30

Session 1
State of Youth Mental Health and Challenges in Access to and Provision of Interventions

There is a global surge in mental health difficulties among youths, that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Self-reported mental health issues are more prevalent among young people compared to other age groups and research shows that the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression is higher among young people than the general population. Young people are facing mental health effects as a result of the challenges experienced by their generation, notwithstanding the pandemic that has led to constraints in the access to and provision of mental health services, resulting in a mental health crisis for many countries.

• How can policy makers and agencies translate findings from the Singapore Youth Epidemiology and Resilience Study to improve mental health in Singaporean youths?
• What are the key challenges and changes needed for society as youth mental health worsens from the COVID-19 pandemic?
• What is the vision for the future with respect to access to mental health care and what are the possible challenges in achieving this?

Panellists

• A/Prof Daniel Fung - Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Mental Health
• Dr Priyanka Rajendram - Assistant Director, Integrated Health Promotion, MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation
• Dr Sharon Sung - Assistant Professor and Senior Clinical Psychologist, Signature Programme in Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School
• A/Prof John Wong - Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Department of Psychological Medicine, National University of Singapore and National University Hospital and Director, Mind Science Centre

Moderator

• Dr Elaine Chew - Head and Senior Consultant, Adolescent Medicine Service, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital

09:30 – 09:40

Break

09:40 – 10:25

Session 2
The Digital World – Friend or Foe?

Research shows that the overuse of digital technology, particularly in the form of social media, contributes to mental health problems. Isolation, anxiety and compulsive behaviour are some of the negative effects associated with social media use among youths. Yet, technology also presents opportunities for improved access to care; reduced stigma associated with seeking mental health services; clinical innovation that enhances treatment options and intervention for youth mental health. What may seem like a contradiction – using the technology to solve the problems that it has created – could in fact be an opportunity.

• What role does social media play in reversing the course of harmful mental health effects?
• How can policy makers and organisations better integrate digital and physical interventions?
• What are some of the ethical considerations in the development of innovations in the digital mental healthcare space?

Panellists

• Olivia Chong - Issue Policy Manager (Suicide, Self-harm and Dangerous Acts), TikTok
• Prof Sonja March - Professor, School of Psychology and Wellbeing and Director, Centre for Health Research, University of Southern Queensland
• Prof Susan Sawyer - Director, Centre for Adolescent Health, Royal Children’s Hospital and Professor of Adolescent Health, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne
• Dr Tan Weng Mooi - Director and Co-lead, Integrated Health Promotion, MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation

Moderator

• Dr Vicknesan Marimuttu - Senior Consultant Psychiatrist and Head, Child & Adolescent Mental Wellness Service, Department of Psychological Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital

10:25 – 11:10

Session 3
Beyond Awareness: Greater Mental Health Support for Youths

In recent years, mental health has garnered much traction among youths in Singapore, through nationwide anti-stigma campaigns such as “Beyond the Label”, and youth-led ground up initiatives such as the “Youth Action Challenge” and “Youth Mental Wellbeing Network”. Moving beyond awareness efforts in mental health advocacy, youths hope to see a society free of mental health stigma and receive stronger support from institutions such as schools, workplaces, as well as online and physical communities.

• How has mental wellbeing among youths in Singapore evolved?
• How can the public, private and people sectors come together to better support youths in their mental wellbeing?
• What are some of the key focus areas on youth mental health in the future?

Panellists

• Colyn Chua - Head, Jardines MINDSET
• Tasneem Abdul Majeed - Undergraduate, National University of Singapore and Beyond the Label Ambassador
• Porsche Poh - Executive Director, Silver Ribbon (Singapore)
• Sun Xueling - Minister of State for Social and Family Development, and Education, Republic of Singapore

Moderator

• Cho Ming Xiu - Founder & Executive Director, Campus PSY

11:10 – 11:20

Calls To Action

CTA 1: Campus PSY Ambassador Programme

Facilitator: Cho Ming Xiu, Founder & Executive Director, Campus PSY

Volunteers undergo a 2-week online training programme in basic mental health literacy, peer support skills, suicide response, self-care strategies and trauma-informed care. Upon completion of the training, they will be certified as Campus PSY Ambassadors and will be able to provide basic emotional support to distressed youths through Campus PSY’s one-stop “By Youths, For Youths” Ecosystem Peer Support for Youths service, consisting of text-based, email and video conferencing platforms.

CTA 2: KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) Youth Connect Programme

Facilitator: Dr Vicknesan Marimuttu, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist and Head, Child & Adolescent Mental Wellness Service, Department of Psychological Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital

The Youth Connect programme aims to produce a set of resources to support and help young persons aged 10 to 18 years old with common life challenges. Through online and/or in person focus group discussions, volunteers contribute insights that can help KKH craft resources which are engaging and helpful for youths facing difficulties with life challenges or mental health issues.

CTA 3: Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) #ChatSafe Programme

Facilitator: Eric Tan, Director (Advocacy, Communications, Engagement), Samaritans of Singapore

Equip volunteers with the relevant skills and knowledge to engage positively with suicide-related online content as well as manage one's own mental health, while reaching out and supporting those in distress around them.