Speech at Silver Ribbon Mental Health Awards Ceremony

Dinesh Vasu Dash, Minister of State for Manpower, PSB Academy

Ms Ellen Lee, President, and Board Members of Silver Ribbon (Singapore),

Mr Derrick Chang, Chief Executive Officer, PSB Academy,

Distinguished Guests.

1       Good morning, and thank you very much for inviting me to join you today.

2       First, let me thank Ms Ellen Lee for inviting me and for being such a champion of mental health. I think all of us will agree she truly deserves our applause.

3       Before taking on my current role, I was in the Agency for Integrated Care, and mental health was particularly meaningful to me. At AIC we worked quite a bit on community mental health. Even before that, in my previous roles, I had many engagements with people struggling with mental health.

4       I remember speaking to a very young person who wanted to take his life. We had a long chat—about two hours in my office. In the end, he decided not to go through with it, and he has since gone on to live a successful and happy life in the UK, where he is studying now. I don’t know exactly what I said, maybe just talking for two hours made him tired. But sometimes it’s simply about being there and listening.

5       I should also add that many years ago, I was deployed to a difficult place. When I came back, I had post-traumatic stress. It did not paralyse me, but it was something I had to manage over the years. And I share this because it shows that no one is immune to mental health challenges. All of us may face them in different ways. What matters is how we cope, and whether there is someone to talk to. That makes a tremendous difference.

6       The Government is also doing its part to support mental health. In 2023, we launched the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy. We also introduced the 1771 hotline—previously there were many hotlines, but now there is a simple four-digit number to call for help.

7       Workplace health is another important area. There is a lot of work done in schools and in the community, but what happens at the workplace? That is why the iWorkHealth survey was created by the Workplace Safety and Health Council, IMH, CGH and HPB. It helps workers and employers understand the state of well-being and workplace risk factors.

8       In November 2023, we also launched the Well-being Champions Network, a platform for workplace well-being champions to exchange ideas and support workers. We started with 50 founding members. Today, it has grown to more than 650, covering about 260,000 employees. Thank you to all the members for your support and commitment. We can continue to grow this network and support more workers who need help.

9       Today’s Silver Ribbon Mental Health Award winners are shining examples of what it means to support people with mental health conditions. In the Employers category, LSK Engineering has adopted a very holistic approach. They have an in-house counsellor to deal with everyday issues, and for more complicated cases, they provide professional counselling. They also conducted the iWorkHealth survey. They remain one of our stalwarts in workplace well-being.

10     There are also award winners from schools, community organisations, and individuals. Community organisations play a vital role. One example is Metropolitan YMCA Singapore, which has now won this award for three years in a row. They have promoted youth mental well-being through their symposium “Youth Got It” since 2022. This has created meaningful dialogue and practical strategies for young people to understand and manage their conditions.

11     This year, Silver Ribbon has also created a new award—the Silver Ribbon–Ellen Lee Global Mental Health Award—to celebrate individuals who have made significant contributions to mental health in their communities. I would like to congratulate Dato Dr Lai Fong Gua from Malaysia and Dr Tan Chong from the Philippines for being the inaugural winners.

12     Let me close by saying this: mental health should not be seen only as a disease to be treated, but as a condition that requires assistance and support. No single person is immune. All of us will face it in different ways, and all of us can play a role. I know I am preaching to the converted, because everyone here is already committed to this cause. But I hope we will continue to be that pillar of support for our colleagues, our communities, and our workplaces.

12     I wish you the very best, and please continue the wonderful work you are doing. Thank you.