Robust Support System for Servicemen with Mental Health Conditions

We refer to Chen Jiaxi's letter on the management of servicemen with mental health conditions in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Home Team.

The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recognise the importance of careful and comprehensive management of servicemen with mental health conditions, and have put in place robust mental health support systems, supported by psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors and para-counsellors, to detect and support servicemen with such conditions.

All pre-enlistees are assessed by Medical Officers for psychiatric and behavioural concerns. The assessment guidelines are regularly reviewed in consultation with the SAF Psychiatry Specialist Advisory Board, a panel comprising senior psychiatrists drawn from the public and private sectors. Only those who are assessed to be able to perform their duties and unlikely to pose risks to themselves or others are enlisted.

During their period of service, all servicemen are monitored for their psychological well-being. During basic training, orientation officers are available to help recruits overcome adjustment problems. At the units, commanders, all of whom are trained to better understand mental health conditions, are required to interview their servicemen regularly.

If the need arises, servicemen are provided with counselling and medical treatment. Trained para-counsellors are present in all units to provide frontline counselling to distressed servicemen. Psychologists also work closely with the servicemen's doctors, counsellors, para-counsellors and commanders to ensure that holistic care is provided to servicemen with mental health conditions. In addition, servicemen also have access to an anonymous 24-hour counselling hotline.

The SAF, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force have different operating environments that require their own dedicated support systems. Best practices are shared across the uniformed services, and both MINDEF and MHA work closely with other relevant government agencies on addressing mental health issues in Singapore.

MINDEF and MHA will continue to review and strengthen the mental health system to ensure that all servicemen with mental health conditions receive good and responsive care.