S'pore's 24-hour lifeline for your mental health - Call phone Number 1771 -- Whether you're a student - caregiver or someone feeling overwhelmed - national mindline 1771 provides a confidential space to talk round the clock

*Call 1771: S'pore's 24-hour lifeline for your mental health* 

An advertorial brought to you by Institute of Mental Health

(NHG Health) and 1771 national mindline

*Whether you're a student, caregiver or someone feeling overwhelmed, national mindline 1771 provides a confidential space to talk round the clock*

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Advertorial 

The Sunday Times 

2026-04-19

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One teenager called himself a "walking curse". An online screening tool suggested he might have depression, yet he kept the result to himself, afraid of burdening his parents.

Another, a young child, felt "sad and left out" when her parents, deep in conversation, did not notice her trying to speak to them.

These are among the worries that young people share with the counsellors at national mindline 1771, Singapore's 24-hour national mental health helpline and textline service.

Says Calvin Lin*, a full-time counsellor with the service: "Individuals who are feeling vulnerable often struggle to express what they are feeling. We ask open questions to help them articulate their thoughts and understand their emotions more clearly."

During these conversations, counsellors focus on providing a calm, non-judgmental space for help-seekers to speak openly.

They also address mental health queries, share coping strategies or connect help-seekers to appropriate community services or resources. Launched in June 2025 by the Ministry of Health and operated by trained counsellors from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), national mindline 1771 is a crucial first stop for those seeking mental health support, especially if they prefer speaking to a counsellor over the phone or via text message.

Help-seekers can choose to remain anonymous. Roughly one in four individuals who have contacted national mindline 1771 and chose to reveal their age are younger than 20 years old.

Many of the help-seekers Calvin speaks with are teenagers navigating independence who fear being judged by their peers or hesitate to open up to adults. The issues they raise range from bullying and exam stress to friendship conflicts and parental expectations.

Dr Christopher Cheok, programme director of national mindline 1771 and senior consultant at IMH, says that younger children may hesitate to share their concerns, especially if they feel that their parents are busy with work or other commitments.

"Some parents may be emotionally unavailable due to personal struggles, such as marital difficulties, which can make children hesitant to add to what they perceive as existing family stress," he says.

Young people are not the only ones reaching out for help. Adults also turn to the service when the pressures of work, parenting or caring for ageing parents begin to feel overwhelming.

One woman reached out while caring for an elderly parent with cancer, as sleepless nights and the constant worry of caregiving had begun to take a toll. After listening and talking through her situation, the counsellor connected her with a community partner for longer-term counselling and support.

Such calls are not uncommon, says Dr Cheok, noting that caregivers often juggle multiple responsibilities like medical appointments and clinic visits alongside work and family duties.

"These may create stress, particularly when they conflict with work obligations or family time. Caring for loved ones with cognitive decline, such as dementia, brings emotional challenges including helplessness, grief and frustration."

Barriers to seeking help can include thinking that mental health challenges are something to be endured, not knowing where to find support, or assuming that no one can help, he adds. But seeking help is not a sign of weakness.

Another national mindline 1771 counsellor Idris Othman* says some callers reach out in the midst of panic attacks.

"You hear them hyperventilating, sobbing, expressing distress. I guide them through breathing exercises and by the end of the call, they are calmer, sometimes even laughing out of relief," he says.

At the end of the conversation, counsellors may also guide help-seekers towards appropriate mental health support services based on their needs.

Idris adds: "Some help-seekers tell me they didn't realise this kind of help exists, and that there are organisations they can reach out to. It's a privilege for me to be there for them as they navigate their challenges. I'm glad they have an avenue to share their worries and be heard."

**Counsellors are identified by the pen names they use during conversations.*

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*"Even if someone shares something shocking, we remind them: 'I'm not here to judge you'."*

---- Calvin Lin*, a full-time counsellor at national mindline 1771

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