Safer Schools and Clearer Pathways: Youths pushing for mental health help that is easier to find and easier to use
Pulse of Tomorrow’s Junior Council carried a motion moved by Fam Yi Kai to strengthen mental health support for youths through safer school environments, clearer help-seeking pathways, and wider awareness of resources. The recommendation focuses on making help visible, predictable, and easier for youths to access early.
Pulse of Tomorrow's Junior Council carried a youth motion moved by Fam Yi Kai calling for safer school environments, clearer help-seeking pathways, and stronger public awareness of mental health resources. The outcome is simple: youths want support to be visible, predictable, and stigma-free, especially in schools where many spend most of their day.
For youths in Singapore, mental health challenges often show up as stress, burnout, sleep issues, or feeling stuck and alone. But even when support exists, the hardest step is often knowing where to go, what to say, and what happens next. When help feels unclear or risky, students may keep quiet until things escalate.
Schools are a crucial first line of support. Students can approach school counsellors, and MOE also provides students and parents access to external support such as the National Care Hotline. What matters in real life is whether young people can recognise the signs, trust the adults around them, and move from “I’m not okay” to “I know exactly what to do next” without fear of judgement.
Clearer pathways make help-seeking less intimidating. That means: - Simple, school-wide guidance on who to approach for different needs (teacher, form teacher, school counsellor, trusted adult). - Clear explanations of confidentiality and what happens after someone reaches out. - Consistent reminders that seeking help early is normal, not a disciplinary issue.
Public awareness also matters because mental health support does not stop at the school gate. Singapore has national platforms and youth-friendly services that youths can access directly, including MindSG and CHAT by IMH. When these resources are promoted in youth spaces and online, it becomes easier for friends and families to support someone before a crisis.
Pulse of Tomorrow's Junior Council is acting by consolidating this recommendation into our Budget 2026 youth submissions and by using our youth network to normalise help-seeking conversations. We will keep the focus practical: making pathways easy to understand, and making information easy to share responsibly among peers.
If you care about safer schools and stronger youth wellbeing, join Pulse of Tomorrow, a youth-led civic platform where young Singaporeans turn lived experiences into constructive ideas and community action. For media queries, contact [email protected] or call +65 6042 5410.
