The Need for Mental Health Promotion and Early Intervention Services for Higher Education Students in Singapore

Student stress and depression in Singapore have a negative impact on students’ academic performance, social involvement and interpersonal relationships. In some Asian cultures, family emphasis on success places additional social and cultural pressure on students. University stressors include lack of economic resources, curriculum demands on time, examination pressure, living away from home and loss of school friends, as well as the need to uphold family respect. In university, students often become anonymous, in a new educational environment far beyond that which they have experienced in secondary school. This paper draws together information related to the demographics of depression in Singapore across education sectors. The discussion is also focused on suicide, and the need for mental health services to identify appropriate intervention and mental health promotion strategies for Singapore students, in particular university students. A number of recommendations for change are considered.