One of the respondents highlighted the importance of helping to translate knowledge about mental health and wellbeing into supportive behaviors for leaders, supervisors and colleagues.

In May 2022, the Singapore Interagency Task Force on Mental Health and Wellbeing came up with several recommendations to strengthen workplace wellbeing measures and improve employability and job support for people with mental illness. mental disorders. At this stage, the task force was seeking to conduct a public consultation to solicit feedback from locals on its recommendations so that it can “improve the mental health and well-being of Singaporeans”.

According to the latest announcement from the Ministry of Health (MOH) (July 25, 2022), to date the consultation has received over 400 comments from people representing stakeholders from different backgrounds and sectors. These stakeholders include young people, parents, health facilities, social service agencies, employers, and people with mental health issues and their caregivers. In addition, nearly 400 people gave their opinion through the online survey hosted on the website of REACH, a department of the Ministry of Communications and Information.

Thus, the recommendations received “constructive and positive” comments from respondents. This includes:

• Accessibility, coordination and quality of mental health services:
  • Stakeholders welcomed the suggestion that frontline workers should be equipped with mental health skills and knowledge to better identify signs and symptoms of mental health distress in their clients. Respondents indicated that such mental health training would allow them to be more effective and confident in encouraging their clients with needs to seek help.

• Strengthen mental health services and client support:
  • Stakeholders agreed that the proposed model of care that provides a tiered system of mental health services would be helpful in meeting the diverse mental health needs of the population. It would also allow clients to access timely quality care tailored to their needs.
  • The tiered system should be accompanied by relevant enablers, such as a common competency framework for staff to guide workforce training and development, as well as assessment and orientation processes standardized, to be implemented.

• Improve employment support for people with mental health issues:
  • The feedback received called for a shift in mental model from a one-size-fits-all approach to one that actively supports the customization of job training and employment supports to better meet the needs of each individual.
  • Beyond increasing awareness of mental health and wellness practices among organizations, it is also important to facilitate the translation of knowledge into supportive behaviors for leaders, supervisors and colleagues.

“We will continue to gather feedback from more stakeholders in future breakout engagements and on the REACH portal. Feedback will allow us to refine the draft recommendations and ensure they are relevant to the future. population,” the health ministry said.

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For context, the proposed recommendations are:

1. Improve mental wellness support systems and work-life balance strategies for general employees (including people with mental health issues), partnering with employers to increase awareness of mental health resources and improve support networks and assistance;
2. Standardize assessment and referral frameworks for all employment support agencies to provide personalized employment support services;
3. Improve access to training for people with mental health issues;
4. Increase the number and variety of employment opportunities available to people with mental health issues;
5. Equip employers, HR practitioners, supervisors and colleagues with knowledge about supporting people with mental health issues and creating inclusive workplaces, through support services and resources such as helplines helplines and counseling clinics.
6. Implement a model of care that offers a tiered system of services (ranging from peer support, general counseling to more intensive psychological and psychiatric services) to meet the needs of people with different levels of mental health needs ;
7. Designate a few first points of contact to provide individuals with easy access to mental health support and advice;
8. Standardize processes and systems to improve coordination between health and social service providers;
9. Ensure that frontline workers, peer helpers and mental health paraprofessionals are equipped with relevant mental health skills and knowledge of mental health issues and community support services.
10. Leverage model of care for mental health and wellness services;
11. Develop a parenting toolkit to equip parents with knowledge and skills on youth mental health and cyber-wellbeing, and
12. Promote positive and healthy use of technology and social media.

Image / Shutterstock

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