In a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in 2022, it was found that mental health has worsened in Singapore. But here’s the silver lining: more people are willing to seek help.
This is undoubtedly a good sign and perhaps unsurprising given the overall increase in awareness of mental health. Nonetheless, there is still a long way to go in reducing the barriers to seeking timely help.
Most of us know help is out there, but when a friend, family member, or even you experience a mental health crisis and need real-time support, trawling through all the options to find a suitable outlet may prove impossible.
Below are some mental health helplines in Singapore that can support you via text messaging, phone call, or both. While digital options have their place (the Learning Paths and Rescue Sessions on our platform speak for themselves), we’ve excluded chatbots from this list, including only those that offer a human touch.
General helplines
Institute of Mental Health (IMH)
IMH’s Mental Health Helpline has been open to the Singaporean public since 2014. This is an emergency hotline for individuals with mental health conditions and their loved ones who could use some guidance on supporting them.
- Hotline: 6389 2222
- Operating hours: 24 hours
- Mode of contact: Call
- Specialisations: Personal challenges, family dynamic issues, grief and loss, and marital issues.
- Manned by: Trained counsellors
Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH)
SAMH Insight Centre was initiated in 1981, offering helpline support and in-person counselling services to individuals experiencing psychiatric, psychological, or emotional challenges, along with their families.
This helpline is for anyone who requires information or help on mental health matters, or wishes to arrange for individual and/or family counselling.
- Hotline: 1800-283-7019
- Operating hours: Mondays to Fridays, 9am to 6pm (except for 1 to 2pm and on public holidays)
- Mode of contact: Call
- Specialisations: Struggles with daily life, stress, sleep difficulties, recovery from mental health conditions, supporting loved ones with mental health conditions.
- Manned by: Experienced mental health professionals
Samaritans of Singapore (SOS)
SOS is a non-religious and not for profit organisation that offers 24-hour hotline, WhatsApp messaging, or email chat for individuals in distress or are contemplating suicide. Additionally, they support suicide survivors who have lost their loved ones.
- Hotline: 1767 (24-hour hotline), 9151 1767 (24-hour Care Text)
- Operating hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week (from Monday to Sunday)
- Modes of contact: Call, WhatsApp, Email (pat@sos.org.sg)
- Manned by: Trained volunteers
Crisis Triage
Crisis Triage is a text messaging service that holds space for individuals to express themselves and process their emotions while at that. Privacy and confidentiality are assured, and users can revisit the conversation for support.
- Hotline: 9323 9345 (WhatsApp) and Facebook Message
- Operating hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week (from Monday to Sunday)
- Modes of contact: Message ‘HELP’ to 9323 9345 via text or WhatsApp
- Manned by: Crisis counsellors
Youths
Ec2.sg
Ec2.sg is a community mental health programme by Fei Yue Community Services dedicated to youths aged between 12 to 25 years old. Their Quick Chat service isn’t just an outlet for talking about mental health and emotional concerns; it also offers a one-to-one mental health screening via online chat.
- Online chat
- Operating hours: Monday, Thursday, Friday; 10am to 12pm, 2pm to 5pm (excluding Public Holidays)
- Modes of contact: Online chat only
- Manned by: Counsellors and social workers
Youthline
Youthline is an integrated service that supports youths of up to 35 years old. They offer a live helpline from 9am to midnight, but if you prefer texting over calling, their live chat service will come in handy.
- Hotline: 6436 6612 (Call) and 8533 9460 (WhatsApp)
- Operating hours: Daily, 9am to 12am
- Modes of contact: Call and text
Hear4U
Hear4U, an initiative by CARE Singapore, is a confidential Whatsapp helpline that offers youths a listening ear and advice where appropriate. Individuals experiencing emotional and mental health concerns will be attended to with Psychological First Aid, a crisis response intervention technique for recovery and stress reduction.
- Hotline: 6978 2728 (WhatsApp)
- Operating hours: Mondays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm
- Modes of text: Text only
- Manned by: Personnel trained with Psychological First-Aid
- Other remarks: Available in English and other official languages of Singapore
Community Health Assessment Team (CHAT)
CHAT by IMH is a relatively new initiative by the Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health in Singapore, whose work started way back in 2009. It’s billed as a one-stop centre for youth mental health support and resources, and distinguishes its helpline with a personalised and confidential mental health assessment service, administered for those aged between 16 and 30.
- Online chat
- Operating hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 1pm to 8pm (excluding Public Holidays)
- Modes of contact: Text only
- Who they serve: Youths and young adults aged 16 to 30
- Manned by: Healthcare professionals
- Other remarks: CHAT also offers mental health checks over video conferencing platforms (Zoom and Microsoft Teams) and in-person at *Scape.
Children
Tinkle Friend
Started in 1984, Tinkle Friend by Singapore Children’s Society is a familiar name to those who grew up on the red dot. To this day, they offer support, advice, and information to lonely and distressed primary school children, especially when their parents or main caregivers are unavailable.
- Hotline: 1800 2744 788
- Operating hours: (Helpline) Monday to Friday, 2.30pm to 5pm; (Online chat) Monday to Thursday, 2.30pm to 7pm; Friday, 2.30pm to 5pm.
- Modes of contact: Call and text
- Manned by: Trained volunteers and staff members
LGBTQ+ Community
Oogachaga
Oogachaga is a community-based, non-profit organisation that serves individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, or gender-diverse. They offer support on issues including sexuality, identity, relationships, mental health and sexual health through WhatsApp and email (replies in two to three days)
- Hotline: 8592 0609 (WhatsApp)
- Operating hours: Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays, 7pm to 10pm; Saturdays, 2pm to 5pm
- Modes of contact: Text and email
- Manned by: Trained LGBTQ+ and LGBTQ-affirming volunteers with supervision
Mandarin speakers
Care Corner
With 40 years of experience to boot, Care Corner is the largest and only toll-free Mandarin counselling hotline in Singapore, catering to individuals struggling with family dynamics, grief and loss, marital issues, and other personal challenges.
Trained in emotional first aid and counselling interventions, the counsellors help to de-escalate mental health challenges, facilitate emotional regulation, and help individuals manage relationship challenges.
- Hotline: 1800-3535-800
- Operating hours: 10am to 10pm, 7 days a week (excluding Public Holidays)
- Mode of contact: Call only
- Who it’s manned by: Trained volunteer hotline counsellors
Same-week appointments at Intellect Clinic
Like the medical care required after a trip to the hospital’s emergency department, appropriate follow-up is needed on top of these crisis helplines. This is why Intellect has two in-person clinics in Tanjong Pagar and Parkway MediCentre at The Woodleigh Mall, with more openings scheduled in 2024.
The Intellect Clinic is operated by clinical psychologists who are trained to offer counselling and psychotherapy services and diagnose mental health conditions. The best part? Same-week appointments are available. You may reach us at:
- WhatsApp: +65 8043 5120
- Email: clinic@intellect.co
- Online form
