One in three children aged 10 to 18 are currently showing signs of depression and anxiety in Singapore (National University of Singapore, 2023).

The issue of mental health continues to persist in our community, making it vital for parents and caregivers to develop stronger mental health literacy and play a key role in identifying any early signs and symptoms in their children. This is so that they can provide timely support to prevent any escalation of mental health symptoms.

At Singapore Children’s Society, this is a key focus of our research work carried out with children, youth and families. Many lack access to mental health resources, services and support beyond that offered by their parents and within a school setting. Hence, it is important for adults to ensure that children are able to access mental health services based on their specific mental health needs.

However, there remains barriers for parents to access such services, which is well-documented internationally. This includes:

  • Stigma surrounding mental health
  • Lack of knowledge of where to seek help
  • Inaccessibility of services due to issues such as long waiting times and high costs (Reardon et al., 2017)

From our own Tinkle Friend service data, children and youth also shared that they had difficulties reaching out to their parents for help with their mental health due to worries about burdening them, having their feelings dismissed, or being prevented from accessing services.

As we continue our work in supporting children, youth and families, we recognise that there is a knowledge gap regarding parents’ and children’s experiences in the child’s mental health journey. The Research Unit in Singapore Children’s Society will be conducting a study that requires the participation of parents with children aged 9 to 15. The findings from this study will provide valuable insights that will help us design better programmes to support parents and children.

If you or anyone you know has a child aged 9 to 15 years old and is keen to participate in this study, please click on this link to register or scan the QR code below.

With our joint efforts in prioritising our children’s mental health needs, we can foster a stronger and more informed community to tackle mental health issues, guiding our young ones towards achieving their brightest potential.

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