Mental health screening at 9 polyclinics helps 100 teens

NHG initiative enables the young to seek help early, get personalised care

- Lee Li Ying

Close to 100 young people between the ages of 13 and 17 have benefited from a mental health screening programme rolled out at all nine polyclinics run by the National Healthcare Group (NHG).

The programme, Adolescent Evaluation and Rapid Treatment of Mental Health, or Alert, was piloted at Hougang Polyclinic in November 2021. It has been available across all of NHG’s polyclinics since April 2023.

Those who show possible signs of mental health issues are screened during their regular consultations.

At a briefing held on July 9 at Khatib Polyclinic, Dr Eugene Chua, co-lead for National Healthcare Group Polyclinics’ (NHGP) mental health programme, said that young people undergo many transitions.

Biologically, they are undergoing puberty, which brings about physical and hormonal changes that some can find distressing. Psychosocially, teenagers are developing their personal identities and seeking acceptance from peers and society.

If these stressors are not properly managed, young people can be at risk of mental health issues.

Dr Chua said that some signs of youngsters with mental health problems include those who come to the polyclinic frequently for issues like headaches, chest pain and stomach aches.

Those with recurrent visits would likely be screened under the Alert programme.