New guide to help people provide mental health support in their communities

Groups that would like to set up "well-being circles" to offer mental health support in their communities can now refer to a how-to guide that outlines best practices and takeaways from existing circles.

- Elisha Tushara

Available for download on the SG Mental Well-Being Network's LinkedIn page, the new guide was announced by Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Alvin Tan on Nov 16, at the Singapore Association for Mental Health's (SAMH) YOUth Alive 2024 event at Our Tampines Hub.

At the event, Mr Tan said the support circles aim to reduce the stigma associated with mental health and mental well-being issues, raise awareness of these concerns and enable peers to provide appropriate and necessary support.

The new guide can help anyone who wants to set up such support circles to be able to do so easily, so that more of them will be available across Singapore, Mr Tan said.

"It is a very practical step on how to set one up and what you need to do to make it successful."

Community well-being circles are a key component of the SG Mental Well-Being Network, which is chaired by Mr Tan, who is also Minister of State for Trade and Industry.