Where do I seek help for my mental health condition in Singapore?
This article is part of a 3-part series and should be used to guide your discussions with a mental health professional. For more information on the other parts of this series, please click on the links below!
Part 1 – Do I have a mental health disorder?
Part 2 – Where do I seek help?
Part 3 – What are the treatment options available for mental health disorders?
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Seeking help for your mental health concerns can be daunting. Whether you have an idea of what mental health condition you may be facing or not, there is a multitude of different services available to address your mental health needs.
Polyclinics
Many of us are aware that polyclinics are the first step to gain a referral for subsidised care in hospitals. This is one potential avenue to access mental health services in hospitals if cost is a concern for you. However, polyclinics also have in-house mental health services, which are able to support a variety of mental health concerns.
Polyclinics offer the following mental health services:
Mental health assessments
Medication
Psychotherapy
Subsidised referrals to hospitals
Referrals to community services
You can find a full list of polyclinics in Singapore here. You will first see a family physician at the polyclinic and then be referred into the psychological services as deemed necessary. Not all polyclinics offer psychological services, and you may be referred to a nearby polyclinic for follow-up.
For a list of polyclinics offering mental health services:
National Healthcare Group Polyclinics (NHGP)
National University Polyclinics (NUP)
Singhealth Polyclinics (SHP) - please call 66436969 for more information
GP Clinics
GP clinics are another avenue to seek mental health care within your community and have more flexible appointment timings as well.
GPs provide the following mental health services:
Mental health assessments
Medication
Referral to hospital
Referral to community services
**Not all GPs are able to support mental health consultations and may only support the treatment of certain mental health conditions. Please refer to this listing for details on mental health GPs, and contact the clinics for more information on cost, treatments and available subsidies.
Hospitals
Appointments with hospital psychiatrists and psychologists can be made to discuss your mental health conditions.
Hospitals provide the following mental health services:
Mental health assessments
Medication
Psychotherapy
Referrals to community services
Community Mental Health Services/Family Service Centres
If you have mental health concerns which you believe do not require a medical consultation, you can make an appointment at community mental health services such as SAMH, Clarity and Club HEAL, or one of the many Family Service Centers (FSCs) located around HDB areas. These centres and organisations offer a variety of services, not limited to mental health treatment. Activities run by these services can also complement or improve your general mental wellness.
Community Mental Health Services provide the following services:
Psychotherapy or counselling
Mental wellness activities
Psychoeducation and awareness programmes
**Different community service providers offer different services, including some free services. Please refer to the individual websites for more information on the services provided.
For tips on reducing costs, please check out our guide on how to save on long-term mental healthcare costs.
