Health and Wellness Modules in Institutes of Higher Learning

Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Education in light of the recent findings from Duke-NUS Medical School and the Institute of Mental Health indicating the economic and societal impact of anxiety and depression particularly among young adults, whether the Ministry has plans to implement mandatory health and wellness modules in Institutes of Higher Learning to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to manage their mental health effectively.

All full-time students in the polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education undergo a mandatory mental wellness literacy curriculum in their first year. The curriculum raises students’ awareness of mental well-being and encourages self-care and early help-seeking behaviour. Feedback on the curriculum has been positive, with students generally agreeing that the curriculum equips them with a better understanding of mental wellness and strategies to cope with life’s stressors.

The Autonomous Universities also offer various mental health programmes that equip students with baseline mental health literacy and ensure all their students have access to mental health resources. These include modules on resilience, stress management and self-care.

These programmes are part of a strong ecosystem of support in the Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs). For early detection of vulnerable students, educators are trained to identify signs of distress and will reach out to students to provide timely support. Peer support leaders provide a listening ear to peers in distress and alert educators and counsellors to peers who might require additional support. Students can also reach out to IHL counsellors who provide specialised counselling support.