One in three youths did not seek help, despite having severe or extremely severe symptoms. Prof Swapna said this gives them the opportunity to find ways of intervening early, including looking at beefing up the mental health curriculum in schools.
Those who chose not to seek help said it was because they did not think specialists would be able to help them, or they were worried about what other people might think of them. Another worry was about privacy, confidentiality and having a permanent record of their condition.
The study found that young people who were less likely to experience severe or extremely severe symptoms of depression, anxiety and/or stress had higher levels of resilience, perceived social support, and greater self-esteem.
Although not all individuals with severe or extremely severe symptoms of depression or anxiety have a clinical condition, being in such states for a prolonged period of time can be detrimental to their well-being, said Prof Swapna.
By identifying the groups who are at greater risk of developing mental health disorders, the study findings will enable policymakers and service providers to develop more targeted approaches in addressing their needs and preventing them from developing mental illnesses, she added.
IMH’s study, like many others, showed that excessive social media use is a public health concern and has tremendous impact on youth mental health, said Associate Professor Mythily Subramaniam, Assistant Chairman, Medical Board (Research) at IMH and co-principal investigator of the study. Research around the world has found that adolescents who spend more than three hours each day on social media may be at heightened risk for mental health problems, particularly mood and anxiety disorders, she said.
The identification of significant associated factors, such as excessive social media use, body shape concerns, and cyberbullying, also underscores the importance of integrating preventive measures into schools and youth services, she said.
“Furthermore, all three factors may be potentially linked to each other. The time young people spend on social media could also be related to cyberbullying and the two may either independently or together cause body shape concerns,” she said.
The IMH study was done in collaboration with MOH, CHAT (Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health) and NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
In the multi-ministry release, the Government said that findings from the study affirm the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to tackling youth mental health issues in the National Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy that was launched by the Government in October 2023.
Many of the measures under the strategy are already in place, while others will be progressively rolled out across the next few years.
In schools, for instance, students are getting through their school curriculums the knowledge and skills of managing their own mental wellbeing.
Parents can get help on matters such as managing screen use from a toolbox of strategies called Parenting for Wellness. The first phase of resources was launched on Sept 18, said the joint release.
Furthermore, in the first half of 2025, a positive use guide on technology and social media to help guide the healthy use of technology, and provide recommendations on how to mitigate its negative impact will be ready, it said.
Depression, anxiety, stress: 1 in 3 youth in S’pore has had very poor mental health, says IMH survey
