Singapore gives IMH a new name and a bigger mission

Singapore’s Institute of Mental Health (IMH) will be renamed the National Centre for Mental Health Singapore in 2027 and redeveloped into a larger, more modern hospital by 2040, as the country shifts towards earlier intervention and more community-based psychiatric care.

The changes were announced by health minister Ong Ye Kung on 10 October as part of a broader overhaul of Singapore’s approach to mental healthcare amid rising mental health challenges, including among young people.

The renamed centre will lead mental health research, coordinate psychiatric care across hospitals and build capabilities across the sector, Ong said. Its role will be similar to that of other national specialty centres for cancer, heart and eye care.

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The redevelopment will take place at IMH’s existing site in Buangkok, with the expanded facility expected to be completed by 2040. Meanwhile, Changi General Hospital, Woodlands Hospital and Alexandra Hospital are strengthening their psychiatric capabilities to complement the central facility.

The changes reflect a broader shift away from IMH functioning as a long-term residential facility for psychiatric patients towards care delivered closer to home and within the community. 

In a statement, IMH said its values would remain unchanged despite the name change.

"Our commitment to patients, caregivers and the community remains at the heart of everything we do. As a national specialty centre, we will also step up to take on a larger role in shaping the nation's mental health landscape through population health, research, education and setting standards of care," it said.

"We look forward to this next chapter and to working together towards a healthier, more mentally resilient Singapore," it added.

Alongside the redevelopment, the government will also seek public feedback on parental consent requirements for service providers.

MOH is developing guidelines on parental consent, while the Singapore Medical Council is revising its ethical guidelines to provide doctors with clearer guidance on when they may proceed with treatment in a young person’s best interests.

Ong said an across-the-board parental consent requirement should not become a barrier to seeking help, particularly when young people are not ready to speak to their parents.

He also highlighted stigma and concerns about future education opportunities, scholarship applications, employment and insurance as barriers to seeking mental health support. Government agencies will need to work together to address these concerns.

The announcement comes as the number of youths receiving help in the community had more than doubled, while national mindline 1771 was handling around 9,000 calls for help each month, said Ong. 

The rebranding had previously been signalled in Parliament in August. In a written answer on 6 August, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said it was studying the need to rebrand IMH in recognition of its status as a key national institution for mental health.

The response followed a question from Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC MP David Hoe, who asked whether IMH’s name, branding and public perception affected mental health stigma and willingness to seek help. He also asked whether MOH would consider rebranding the institution or its public-facing services to better reflect mental well-being, recovery and community-based support.

Photo credits to Clinical Trials Singapore.

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