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Speech by Minister Desmond Lee at the Launch of the Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Foundation Community Mental Health Initiative

Type: Official Speeches: Desmond Lee

Topic(s): Other Updates

Published on 08 May 2026

Mrs Elaine Saverin, Chairwoman, and Mr Eduardo Saverin, Co-Founder, Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Foundation
Friends and distinguished guests,

Introduction 

  1. Good afternoon.
  2. I’m glad to join you for the launch of the Community Mental Health Initiative. 
  3. Earlier in the year, a mother came to see me.  She described her life’s journey, and having raised a child who was all-rounded, did well in sports and the leadership roles she took on in school. But for a number of months, her daughter had been hiding in her room. Notwithstanding family support, clinical support, her daughter became a shadow of herself. The affliction of mental health had robbed this mother of this bright, young, bubbly, chirpy girl that was her only child. 
  4. It may be hard to be that shoulder to cry on, but if we all come together to provide support early, upstream, and in the community, we have hope to help every single young person who is afflicted by the scourge of mental health. 
  5. So, it brings us to today’s Community Mental Health Initiative. Through this initiative, the Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Foundation will be giving a generous grant of $6 million to two partners that will advance mental health in Singapore, and become part of the important landscape of partners that come together to support the institution, and the community – with half supporting NUS Mind Science Centre (NMSC)’s work in talent development in the mental health field, and the other half supporting Impart, who works with young people facing adversity.
  6. I would like to thank the Foundation for your generosity to this meaningful cause, and for believing in NUS Mind Science Centre and Impart.

Importance of Mental Health

  1. Mental health is the cornerstone of overall well-being. When we have good mental health, we are better able to weather the everyday stresses of life, and to show up fully for our families, as well as in our workplaces and our communities. 
  2. Yet, mental health challenges have become increasingly complex, with the world in significant flux on multiple fronts. Economic uncertainties, armed conflict, social isolation, family transitions, technologies such as devices and social media – these all can be overwhelming for all of us, including young people. 
  3. For children and youths who are still building their resilience and social-emotional skills, life’s challenges and adversities can affect their mental well-being and impact their education, social relationships, and careers. So prevention, early detection and timely intervention is crucial. 
  4. That is why we have been working to strengthen mental health support at the national level and importantly in the community. In 2023, we launched the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy, to build an effective mental health ecosystem of care where everyone can seek help early and receive more timely support. We are expanding the capacity of our mental health services, expanding and enhancing service providers’ capabilities for early identification and intervention, and fostering workplaces and communities that promote mental health and well-being.
  5. Mental health is now woven into the fabric of our broader national health initiatives, such as Healthier SG for preventive health, and Age Well SG that supports seniors with active ageing. Both of these national programmes recognise that physical and mental health are deeply intertwined and contribute to overall well-being, and provide services that support mental health. 
  6. And we want to build a more inclusive society for persons with mental health conditions, by reducing stigma through, for instance, the Beyond the Label movement led by the National Council of Social Service, and raising awareness in our schools, workplaces, and online through efforts by our Health Promotion Board.

Collective Effort Needed to Strengthen Mental Health Support

  1. But strengthening the mental health ecosystem cannot be done by the Government alone. It requires a collective effort, together with our social services, healthcare providers, community organisations, and each and every one of us. That is why efforts such as those by the Foundation, NUS Mind Science Centre, and Impart, are so important.
  2. When someone struggles with mental health, there are ripple effects, which can affect loved ones, work, and the community. The story I told at the start is a good example of how the ripple effect affects the whole family. Conversely, when we strengthen mental health support, we strengthen the fabric of society. And that is what the “We-First” approach seeks to achieve, where we all try to come together, work together, starting with conversations, begin to collaborate, and contribute towards collective well-being. And when we help others thrive, we grow stronger too ourselves.
  3. The Community Mental Health Initiative exemplifies this approach, by working across partners to strengthen clinical care, social services, and community support. NUS Mind Science Centre does important work. You translate complex science into practical tools to improve mental resilience, and you inform the training of healthcare professionals, educators, caregivers, and volunteers. I understand that the Initiative will be funding scholars for the Centre’s Master of Clinical Mental Health and Psychotherapy programme, building up critical talent in this field. And Impart will be tapping the Initiative’s funding to deliver care directly to communities and equip young people with the knowledge and skills to navigate mental health challenges.
  4. Together, these efforts will help provide research-informed, community-based support to those in need.

Conclusion

  1. Once again, thank you to the Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Foundation for your generous contributions towards strengthening mental health support, the NUS Mind Science Centre for advancing mental health research and talent development, and Impart for providing accessible mental health services for our youths right where they live.
  2. Thank you.