No current plans to include routine mental health screening in Child Health Plan, as the focus remains on early detection: MOH

Singapore will continue to identify and support children showing signs of mental distress through trained school staff and community referrals, rather than conducting universal screenings.

In a Parliamentary query last month, Nadia Ahmad Samdin, MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, raised a query to the Minister of Health on whether mental health screening will be included in the Child Health Plan initiative under the Grow Well SG programme.

In response the Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that there is currently no strong scientific evidence to support routine mental health screening for children or adults who show no symptoms. As such, he added, Singapore will not adopt universal mental health screening as part of the Child Health Plan at this stage.

Instead, the country continues to take a risk-based approach – one that focuses on identifying early signs of distress and providing timely intervention for individuals who may need support.

The minister also highlighted the presence of trained peer supporters, educators, and staff in MOE schools and Institutes of Higher Learning, who are equipped to spot signs of distress among students. When concerns are flagged, students can be referred to mental health professionals in the community for further assessment and intervention.

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