R. Hirschmann
Research expert covering Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia
Mental health in Singapore - statistics & facts
The subject of mental health has long been a stigmatized and taboo topic in Singapore. Singaporean society places a strong emphasis on achieving success through meritocracy, hard work, and resilience. Mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and burnout, still carry a stigma in Singapore, with many perceiving it as a sign of weakness or character defect. However, the COVID-19 pandemic shone a spotlight on the mental health of Singaporeans, as it led to a deterioration in mental health across all generations. While attitudes towards mental health are changing, especially among the younger generations, the availability of mental healthcare facilities and services is yet to keep up with the demand from people seeking treatment.
Graduating from the education system does not mean that Singaporeans are leaving the pressure cooker lifestyle behind – far from it. The already stressed-out youths then enter an even more demanding workplace. Employees in Singapore tend to work long hours. This only worsened with COVID-19, when the boundaries between the personal and the professional became blurred with working from home. It is thus unsurprising that Singaporean workers report high levels of burnout.
The cost of treatment, especially in the private healthcare sector, is also a significant deterrent for many. While public mental healthcare is subsidized, those who do not wish to wait must pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket for a session with a mental health professional in private practice. This puts effective mental health treatment out of reach for many. When surveyed, Singaporeans rated the effectiveness of treatment for mental health issues such as suicide in the country as average.
Society’s perceptions on mental health
Singaporeans face pressure to excel from a young age. The education system emphasizes academic success at every stage, with students expected to balance academic and extracurricular achievement. The COVID-19 pandemic further added to the stressors facing young people in Singapore, with home-based learning creating a sense of isolation. The recession caused by the pandemic also increased the anxiety of youths as they faced an uncertain future. In 2021, the youth suicide rate in Singapore reached a five-year high.Graduating from the education system does not mean that Singaporeans are leaving the pressure cooker lifestyle behind – far from it. The already stressed-out youths then enter an even more demanding workplace. Employees in Singapore tend to work long hours. This only worsened with COVID-19, when the boundaries between the personal and the professional became blurred with working from home. It is thus unsurprising that Singaporean workers report high levels of burnout.
Mental health infrastructure and services in Singapore
While the ratio of mental health professionals to the population in Singapore is higher than the Southeast Asian average, it is nowhere near that of similarly-developed economies. There is only one mental hospital in Singapore, the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), serving a resident population of more than five million. Waiting times for mental health treatment (1369286) and diagnoses are unsurprisingly long. Furthermore, many still perceive a stigma associated with being treated at the IMH, leading to reluctance and delay in seeking treatment.The cost of treatment, especially in the private healthcare sector, is also a significant deterrent for many. While public mental healthcare is subsidized, those who do not wish to wait must pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket for a session with a mental health professional in private practice. This puts effective mental health treatment out of reach for many. When surveyed, Singaporeans rated the effectiveness of treatment for mental health issues such as suicide in the country as average.
