Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what percentage of Community Intervention Team clients are male; (b) what is the number of males in the age range of (i) below 20 (ii) 20-35 (iii) 35-60 and (iv) above 60; (c) what are the common presenting mental health or psychosocial issues affecting males; and (d) what targeted strategies are in place to improve help-seeking behaviour amongst men.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: In FY2024, the Community Intervention Team (COMIT) supported over 16,000 clients. About 35% of them were males, 2% were aged between 18 and 19, 30% were between 20 and 34, 41% were between 35 and 60, and 27% were above 60.

They commonly presented with symptoms of depressive and anxiety disorders.

To improve help-seeking, we have established various access points for mental health services, to facilitate access to other necessary mental health services. These include the national mindline 1771, self-help digital portal mindline.sg and in-person services through Community Outreach Teams. These are complemented by efforts to combat stigma and normalise health-seeking through public education campaigns.

Link to Hansard: Link

Mr Cai Yinzhou asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what percentage of eligible parents have participated in HPB's Mental Well-being Workshops for Parents since their launch; and (b) how is the effectiveness of these workshops measured in terms of sustained parental support for children's mental health.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: About 2,600 parents have participated in mental well-being workshops conducted by the Health Promotion Board every year, since its launch in 2020. Based on surveys conducted pre- and post-workshops, about 85% of parents who attended the workshops gained new knowledge and expressed intention to practise new skills learnt to better support their child's mental well-being. 

Link to Hansard: Link