The additional funds would be channelled into customised education programmes for children, adults and the elderly. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM
THE mental well-being of Singaporeans will get a booster shot of $35 million over the next three years after the government accepted the recommendations of the National Mental Health Working Group (NMHWG).
This is on top of the $88 million for the next five years announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in September 2007.
The additional funds would be channelled into customised education programmes for children, adults and the elderly.
It would also further help the combined effort of the healthcare professionals and the community to identify and carry out initiatives needed for potential mental problems.
The recommendations by NMHWG, announced on Thursday, focused on two strategies - to increase public education on prevention, and training those in the community to identify potential mental health problems.
The working group, set up in 2007, is headed by Permanent Secretary for Health Yong Ying-I.
It builds on existing efforts of various agencies to develop a national strategy for the different sectors in the community.
A mental health survey in 2004 showed that 15.7 of adults suffered from mental health problems such as phobias and mild depression.
Also, 12.5 per cent of children below 12 have problems such as depression and anxiety, while 5.2 per cent of those above 60 have dementia.
