Oral Reply by Senior Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad on External Mental Health Support for NSFs with Psychosocial Stressors on 8 Apr 2026

Dr Haresh Singaraju asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence in addition to the SAF's established internal mental health support system, whether full-time National Servicemen identified with mental health conditions associated with psychosocial stressors are systematically linked with external health and social sector partners to address underlying triggers and support their continued wellbeing during and after service.

Senior Minister of State for Defence, Zaqy Mohamad:

I thank the member for acknowledging the SAF-established mental health support system in his PQ in how we support full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) with mental health needs. Then Senior Minister of State for Defence, Mr Heng Chee How, had provided a description of the SAF's mental health support system in his response to parliamentary questions from Mr Desmond Choo and Dr Wan Rizal on 7 March 2024. The Member can refer to that reply as background info.

In addition to the SAF's mental health support systems, the SAF has measures to support NSFs who face psychosocial stressors that may impact their mental health. These NSFs are identified through various touchpoints during their service, such as their Basic Military Training survey and regular commander interviews. Where needed, their commanders will provide them support or refer them to relevant services, such as the SAF's financial assistance schemes, counselling and rehabilitation services.

We recognise that NSFs with psychosocial needs may benefit from the larger social support system. The SAF collaborates with partners on additional avenues of support where appropriate. For example, it works with the Ministry of Social and Family Development's Social Service Offices, and the community network of Family Service Centres to help those with added needs. Doing so also ensures continuity of support for our NSFs after they complete National Service.

We encourage NSFs who require assistance to reach out to their commanders, the SAF Mental Health Office or the SAF counselling hotline. Thank you.

Supplementary Question

Dr Haresh Singaraju:

Thank you for the reply. I have two Supplementary Questions (SQs), one from the perspective of a public healthcare doctor, and another from an SAF medical officer commander.

At this juncture, many NSmen who do see us in public healthcare do raise concerns in terms of the social strains they face during these times, and we are aware of social partners that can offer such help. I wonder if we can strengthen the communication between public healthcare, and that of the SAF during their NS, such that we can inform the commanders that these are gaps that the NSmen are facing, and therefore the kind of avenues that we can refer these NSmen to.

And on the other front, as an SAF medical officer commander, I recognise that there are avenues to support these NSmen in terms of the various social issues they present with, but is such education provided during commander training, or even during the medical officer courses, such that once we recognize these psychosocial stressors, in terms of who we can refer to within the SAF as well as externally, because, from my understanding, currently, it is not in the curriculum. Thank you.

Senior Minister of State for Defence, Zaqy Mohamad:

Thank you. On the first SQ, certainly we welcome that, because today with MSF and the Social Service Offices (SSOs), MINDEF is piloting CaseConnect, where there is a direct link between our officers, or medical health professionals, as well as SSOs, in terms of being able to manage cases jointly. So that is under pilot.

But certainly, I will take it back to MINDEF to study how we can also integrate better with the public healthcare system for professionals like yourselves, who can also provide feedback back into the system.

On the second SQ, let me check, because generally, most of our commanders, the unit commanders who oversee our troops, NSFs, for example, are trained. And they do have schemes and mechanisms to support our NSFs, whether they are in financial services, financial assistance, assistance requirements, or whether they are external things that they may need - rehabilitation services, counselling, family issues.

So, we understand that there are different stressors which the unit commanders are charged to look after, and they have access to such schemes too. However, I think one possibility is for the mental health professionals to also provide feedback to the unit.

But I take your point. Let us see how we can integrate this better, and see how we can work this through in a more efficient way. Thank you.