Knowing that mental health matters is one thing. Knowing how to support someone who is struggling — or recognising when to seek help ourselves — is another. Singapore’s Beyond the Label (BTL) movement is placing greater emphasis on these everyday actions as it enters its next phase.
Announced on 28 October 2026, BTL 3.0 aims to equip Singaporeans with practical mental wellness and peer-support skills, while encouraging more inclusive attitudes towards people living with mental health conditions. The initiative brings together organisations from Singapore’s public, private and community sectors.
Why Mental Health Support Needs to Go Beyond Awareness
The National Council of Social Service (NCSS) highlighted findings from its 2025 Quality of Life Study, which surveyed approximately 6,700 adults aged 18 and above. Among respondents, 26% reported mild depressive or anxiety symptoms, 19% reported moderate symptoms and 7% reported severe symptoms.
These findings point to differing levels of mental health needs and the importance of getting appropriate support early. NCSS also found that family members and friends can influence whether people feel encouraged to seek help.
BTL’s plans therefore focus not only on helping people recognise mental health challenges, but also on what they can do when a colleague, friend or family member needs support.
New Initiatives for Seniors, Caregivers and Young People
The BTL Collective plans to expand mental health education and support to several groups with different needs.
- Seniors: Art, music and other creative activities will be used to strengthen mental health literacy and encourage help-seeking. Some seniors will also be trained as “kampung chiefs” to promote mutual care in their communities.
- Caregivers: Parents and caregivers of children and young people will learn communication skills and how to spot early signs of distress. Those caring for both children and ageing parents will be offered manageable self-care strategies to help prevent burnout.
- Youths: Programmes will include more intensive peer-support training alongside roadshows where young people can practise supportive conversations.
Through its Well-Being Circles, BTL is also introducing SibsUnite, an initiative for siblings of people with special needs. Student-led groups are exploring campaigns addressing social withdrawal, including hikikomori, and other challenges affecting young people.
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BTL Mini-Series Moves Mental Wellness Conversations Online
The planned in-person BTL Fest 2026 will not go ahead because of the ongoing haze. Instead, the campaign will feature The BTL Mini-Series, a five-part YouTube programme hosted by Joakim Gomez.
Running from 28 October to 1 November 2026 at 7.30pm daily, each approximately 20-minute episode explores mental wellness through everyday sensory experiences. The theme is “Mental Wellness Begins With All Of Us”.
Rather than prescribe major changes to viewers’ routines, the episodes introduce a small “half step” people can try themselves:
- 28 October: Take a few slow breaths, then check in on someone.
- 29 October: Spend a few minutes on a hands-on activity, alone or with family.
- 30 October: Pay attention to the scent and taste of a familiar drink instead of rushing through it.
- 31 October: Notice something beautiful in the surroundings, perhaps capturing it in a photograph or sketch.
- 1 November: Listen for three sounds nearby, then share an uplifting song with someone.
The episodes feature conversations and activities involving families, mental health advocates, professionals and performers. Full episodes will be available through BTL’s YouTube channel and website, with shorter clips on its social media platforms.
Survey Shows Progress — and Areas That Still Need Attention
BTL’s FY2025 evaluation included a post-participation survey of 2,087 people who had attended at least one programme. Awareness of mental health support services and resources rose from 92.3% in FY2024 to 94.1% in FY2025. Willingness to hire people with mental health conditions also increased, from 42.3% to 69.5%.
However, the wider evaluation presents a more mixed picture. Positive attitudes towards people with mental health conditions declined from 68.6% to 64.3%, while willingness to seek professional or informal help fell from 87.7% to 83.7% over the same period. These are participant survey results, not figures representing all Singaporeans, and they do not by themselves establish that the programmes caused the changes.
In FY2025, BTL held more than 116 engagements across schools, workplaces and communities, reporting a reach of more than 67,600 people.
Lim Shung Yar, Chief Executive Officer of NCSS, said the movement aims to equip individuals, workplaces and communities with the confidence to support others, seek help early and create more welcoming environments.
Where to Find Mental Health Support in Singapore
BTL’s programmes and resources will continue beyond the digital campaign. For information about mental health services and available support, visit mindline.sg. Updates on the campaign are also available through Beyond the Label and its social channels at @beyondthelabelsg.
Source: Beyond the Label Collective media release, 28 October 2026.
Melissa Fann
Trevor Klass
Guest Contributor
