Take-up Rate among Parents for Voluntary Workshops Dealing with Child Mental Health Issues

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Education (a) what is the uptake rate among parents for voluntary workshops conducted by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) that aim to provide support and guidance on dealing with mental health issues of their children; (b) whether schools will consider including mental health screening in their health screening programmes; and (c) how do schools collaborate with parents to identify and support students who may be experiencing mental health difficulties.

The Health Promotion Board (HPB) conducts Colours of the Mind workshops to enable parents to support their child's mental well-being. In 2022, over 3,000 parents participated in them.

Whilst there may be some merits of mental health screening, this is an approach that is not straightforward and warrants further study. Parents are best placed to notice when their child is experiencing mental health issues. Schools work closely with parents to support students with mental health concerns through early identification, referrals to professionals and community resources, as well as interventions.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) also supports parents with resources and tips as well as access to networks with other parents on good parenting approaches and fostering mental well-being.