Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Health (a) why was the “It’s OKAY to Reach Out” campaign for mental health discontinued in March 2022; and (b) whether the Ministry is considering launching similar programmes in the future to encourage help-seeking behaviour and awareness of avenues for help for mental health challenges.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Health Promotion Board (HPB) launched the “It’s OKAY to Reach Out” campaign in October 2021 to promote mental health awareness and literacy among Singaporeans, empower individuals to develop coping skills to manage their mental well-being, and encourage them to reach out for support when they feel overwhelmed.
The programme was not discontinued in March 2022 and is still ongoing, with sustained outreach through social media, online and on-ground programmes.
Aside from “Its OKAY to Reach Out”, HPB also runs a range of other mental health awareness programmes. One campaign is aimed at helping parents better understand their child’s emotional health and identify behaviours of concern. Additionally, HPB’s mental health promotion efforts include raising awareness on MindSG, a one-stop online national portal for mental health and well-being resources.
Ministry of Health
23 February 2023
https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=written-answer-12900
Office of the Leader of the Opposition 