Families with mentally ill members will be able to get help at home from this year with a new initiative by the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH).

The mobile support programme, which will be launched in the middle of the year, will allow people to call counsellors, who will then make home visits to help them.

The home support initiative is aimed at reaching out to those who have never sought help for mental illness, or do not seek treatment due to stigma, said SAMH executive director Rajeswari K. She was speaking at a media briefing on SAMH's annual charity event in May.

This year, local artistes and young chefs will be working together to help raise some $650,000 for SAMH's new and existing programmes. A musical produced and directed by local artiste Gillian Tan will be staged at the May 3 dinner at the Resorts World Convention Centre. A special menu prepared by the Singapore Chefs Association National Junior Team will also be served.