SINGAPORE – Rebalancing resources towards prevention and addressing the impact of technology on adolescents are key mental health priorities for the Ministry of Health (MOH) here, as the prevalence of mental health conditions continues to spike around the world, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on April 24.
Speaking at the WorkWell Leaders Awards 2026, Mr Ong said the ministry was moving to allocate more resources towards preventing mental health issues, correcting a balance that now tilts towards funding hospitalisation and treatments.
Singapore operates on a four-tier mental health framework, with prevention and early intervention at Tier 1 and 2, where the majority of the population’s needs lie. Currently, most resources are concentrated at Tier 4, which is for intensive inpatient services at institutions such as the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), which has 2,000 beds, he said.
“One of our priorities is to realign the resources so that Tier 1 and Tier 2 get a lot more support, because prevention is now the order of the day,” Mr Ong said at the event, organised by local charity Workwell Leaders, to recognise leadership that successfully advances organisational well-being. It was held at Conrad Singapore Marina Bay.
He also reiterated the Government’s commitment to tackling the impact of technology and social media on adolescents.
There is merit to banning social media, as many countries have said they are going to do, but the move also has its downsides, said Mr Ong.
An expert panel formed by MOH to study the issue found that the problem is not social media itself, but factors such as the lack of a robust age verification feature, the autoplay function, which keeps users continually scrolling, and the fact that adults who are strangers can directly message young people.
“Another way to look at it, we would not rule out banning but on the other hand, let’s also discuss with the tech companies on the features that may be harmful to our children, so that we can protect their mental well-being,” he said.
