SINGAPORE – In recent years, Singapore has made important strides in addressing mental health stigma.
National campaigns like the multi-year initiative Beyond the Label by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS); studies such as the Institute of Mental Health’s (IMH) Mind Matters: A Study of Mental Health Literacy (2016 and 2024); and the NCSS Quality of Life Study point to a slow but meaningful shift in public attitudes.
Encouragingly, social stigma around mental health is on the decline. More Singaporeans today are willing to speak openly about anxiety or depression, and seeking help is increasingly seen as a sign of strength rather than weakness.
Yet beneath this progress, two more insidious forms of stigma persist: self-stigma and structural stigma.
Self-stigma is when individuals internalise negative stereotypes about mental illness, and it remains a significant barrier to help-seeking. A previous study by IMH with about 300 patients showed that many people with mental health conditions continued to perceive themselves as less capable or worthy.
Structural stigma, meanwhile, manifests in policies and systems that inadvertently marginalise people with mental health conditions: employment discrimination, barriers to insurance, and a lack of sustained workplace accommodations are some examples.
A powerful example is that of a young woman – let’s call her Valerie – whom I first met when she was just 14. Valerie struggled with intense self-doubt and emotional turbulence, at times convinced she was a “psychopath” due to her perfectionistic tendencies and high expectations from her parents.
Over the years, her journey led to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. With the right treatment and support, Valerie stabilised and eventually pursued a career in nursing. Despite her open declaration of her mental illness, she faced multiple hurdles – first at the Nursing Board and later at the hospital where she sought employment.
Fortunately, she persevered, secured a nursing job, and returned to our clinic years later, with cakes and gratitude. Her story is one of courage, but it also highlights how structural stigma can stand in the way of recovery, purpose and participation.
To tackle these deeper forms of stigma, Singapore must move beyond awareness and towards empowerment.
