Singapore – July 14, 2025 – Singapore recently hosted a series of pivotal events, showcasing its commitment to transforming mental healthcare through digital innovation and international collaboration. From July 14th to 18th, leaders and experts from across the globe converged in Singapore, highlighting the nation’s proactive approach to digital mental health.
Day 1: Singapore’s National Perspective – Leading the Digital Mental Health Transformation by Design
Monday, July 14th kicked off with an inspiring day focused on Singapore’s leadership in digital mental health. The event, led by Weng Mooi Tan, Director of the MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation (MOHT), saw spirited participation from key Singaporean agencies, including the Agency for Integrated Care, the Ministry of Health, Health Promotion Board, Institute of Mental Health, and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS).
The day featured insightful presentations from Dawn Ho (Ministry of Health), Joseph Quek (Health Promotion Board), Rebecca Chong (Agency for Integrated Care), Janice Weng, and Janel Loke (MoH). Attendees also had the opportunity for inspiring site visits to National Mindline and Care Corner. A special highlight was the presence of distinguished international experts like Senator Katherine (Kathy) Hay ICD.D from the Senate of Canada, Jenny Yuen from Kids Help Phone, and Krista Vanderheide, Assistant Secretary from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, who offered valuable global perspectives.
The overarching takeaway was the interconnectedness of Singapore’s digital mental health ecosystem, emphasizing the proactive collaboration among all mental health and social services agencies to deliver optimal outcomes for end-users. This affirmed Singapore’s success in digital mental health is built on bold leadership, meticulous project management, and authentic collaboration.
Day 2: APEC Perspective – APEC Digital Hub for Mental Health Summit on Youth Mental Health and Digital Technologies
Tuesday, July 15th, saw Singapore host the significant APEC Roundtable on Youth Mental Health and Digital Technologies. Organized by the APEC Digital Hub for Mental Health in partnership with the Singapore Institute of Mental Health, this event fostered crucial regional collaboration for digital mental health solutions across 21 Asia-Pacific economies.
A Strategic Partnership
The roundtable powerfully demonstrated the impact of strategic partnerships. The eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC), a global leader in digital mental health, played a key role alongside representatives from APEC economies including Canada, Singapore, New Zealand, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Australia. eMHIC’s longstanding strategic partnership with the APEC Digital Hub underscores a shared commitment to advancing innovative, evidence-based mental health programs across the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation region.
Role of the APEC Digital Hub
Based at the University of British Columbia, the APEC Digital Hub coordinates regional mental health initiatives. It facilitates knowledge sharing among government, public, and private sectors to develop scalable, culturally sensitive digital solutions aligned with the region’s goals of inclusive, sustainable growth.
Knowledge Sharing and Leadership Recognition
Presentations from across the Asia-Pacific highlighted innovative practices, with notable speakers from Singapore, China, Indonesia, Canada, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand. Discussions focused on scalable, accessible, and culturally relevant digital interventions for youth.
A significant moment was eMHIC honoring Dr. Jill Murphy, PhD, Executive Director of the APEC Digital Hub, with a Māori Korowai. This prestigious symbol of leadership, honor, and power recognized Dr. Murphy’s outstanding contributions to regional and global development, reflecting her highly acclaimed and prestigious global recognition.
Days 3 & 4: Singapore Mental Health Conference – Reimagining Mental Health
Wednesday, July 16th, and Thursday, July 17th, marked the 8th Singapore Mental Health Conference (SMHC), Singapore’s premier event for mental healthcare. Officiated by Dr. Poh-Koon Koh, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Manpower, the conference was jointly organized by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), National Council of Social Service (NCSS), Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), Health Promotion Board (HPB), and MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation (MOHT). Its timely theme, “Reimagining Mental Health: Empowering Lives,” resonated with over 1,000 participants from government, healthcare, social, and education sectors.
As Associate Professor Daniel Fung, CEO of IMH and Co-Chairperson of the SMHC 2025 Advisory Committee, noted, “Mental health is a cornerstone of our nation’s well-being, and the SMHC marks a significant milestone in our collective journey. The strong turnout this year reflects Singapore’s commitment to building a mentally resilient society, and also provides hope and impetus for more collaborative approaches.”
The conference featured 69 local and international speakers leading 5 plenaries and 43 track sessions. These sessions explored crucial themes such as digital mental health, artificial intelligence (AI), inclusive workplaces, and community-based care. Experts from Singapore, Australia, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and the Philippines shared their insights through outstanding presentations and meaningful panel discussions. Notable speakers included Daniel Fung, Dr. Poh-Koon Koh, Senator Katherine (Kathy) Hay, Liz Ashall-Payne, Andrew Greenshaw, Weng Mooi Tan, Dr. Jill Murphy, Krista Vanderheide, Dr. Swapna Verma, Alice Ong, Dr. Romulo de Castro, See Yen Theng, Dr. Gerald Koh, and Dr. Christopher Cheok.
The SMHC proved to be a fertile ground for transformative change in mental health, inspiring new perspectives on how mental health is understood, delivered, and empowered.
Day 5: Digital Mental Health Roundtable – Convergence of Global Best Practice
The week concluded on Friday, July 18th, with the Digital Mental Health Roundtable, jointly hosted by the MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation (MOHT) and the eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC). The roundtable’s theme, “Towards A Sustainable and Scalable Digital Mental Health Ecosystem Through Accreditation and Activation,” focused on achieving sustainable and scalable digital mental health solutions.
Expertly facilitated by Professor Andrew Greenshaw from Canada and Dr. Eunice Wong from Singapore, the discussion featured an impressive depth of expertise from Senator Katherine (Kathy) Hay (Canada), Krista Vanderheide (Australia), Liz Ashall-Payne (England), and a strong Singaporean contingent led by Weng Mooi Tan and Daniel Fung.
A highlight of the day was the recognition of Weng Mooi Tan, who was honored with a Māori korowai by eMHIC’s Global Leadership Council Members, Senator Katherine (Kathy) Hay, and Professor Andrew Greenshaw. This prestigious honor symbolizes respect, prestige, and honor, inducting her into the eMHIC Global Leadership Council. The active participation of Nicole K., a lived experience leader, further emphasized Singapore’s outstanding ecosystem of leaders.
Delegates explored best practices, the role of AI and emerging technologies, and strategies for co-design, inclusion, and trust. The consensus reinforced that “The future of mental health depends on our collective commitment to authentic co-design, trust, and accessibility.”
This series of events underscored Singapore’s pivotal role in shaping the future of digital mental health, demonstrating a clear path forward through global cooperation and innovative strategies.
