Speech by Minister Desmond Lee at the Launch of NUS Yeo Boon Khim Mind Science Centre Exhibition at Mind Art Experiential Lab (MAELAB)
Mar 21, 2024
A very good morning. Thank you for inviting me to the NUS Yeo Boon Khim Mind Science Centre’s Mind Art Experiential Lab, or MAELab for short.
Launch of NUS Yeo Boon Khim Mind Science Centre Exhibition
I am honoured to be able to launch MAELab’s third exhibition. This exhibition, entitled "Nature's Embrace: A Gift to the Mind", was developed in partnership with the NUHS Regional Health System and the Alexandra Hospital, and supported by my colleagues at the National Parks Board (NParks). It features a blend of nature and creative exhibits, such as a terrarium and moss art display, a dry garden, as well as a virtual forest walking experience, which explore the connection between mind, body, and nature. Through immersive and interactive displays, the exhibition aims to invite people to explore and experience the deep connection between mindfulness and nature, and how nature positively impacts physical and mental wellbeing. I hope you can find the time to take a look at the displays, and participate in activities like mandala-making today. You can also look forward to other upcoming therapeutic horticulture workshops like terrarium-making and moss art. I hope that many Singaporeans will come too, and then be able to bring the ideas of how nature can be therapeutic into the different spaces of Singapore.
Benefits of Nature on Mental Health and Wellbeing
This exhibition comes at a very opportune moment. There is growing awareness and appreciation of the importance of mental wellness in Singapore, and in fact, all around the world. For example, a recent study that was conducted by NUS Yeo Boon Khim Mind Science Centre and the Ministry of Education (MOE) found that one in three respondents reported clinical symptoms of anxiety and mood disorders.
This is something we have to address, not in silo, but to address together as a whole nation, and we are very serious about doing so. DPM Lawrence Wong had recently announced important steps that the Government is taking to address this, for example by increasing capacity in our medical institutions and care facilities, growing the number of mental health professionals, and introducing mental health services to all our polyclinics and 900 GP clinics. Having a conducive living environment will also be critical in this respect.
Today, as we commemorate the International Day of Forests, we are reminded of the vital role that our forests and green spaces play in sustaining life on mother earth. Our forests provide important ecosystem services – that we often take for granted, including climate regulation, and support our rich biodiversity, as well as contribute to the livelihoods and wellbeing of millions of people all around the world.
Under the Draft Master Plan 2025 exercise, we are committed to continue to steward our nature and biodiversity and heritage, and enhance our natural capital island-wide. As we transform Singapore into a City in Nature, greenery can also improve our mental health and wellbeing. For example, many studies have shown that being close to nature and greenery can promote a longer, healthier, and happier life. Immersing ourselves in therapeutic green landscapes, going for nature walks, as well as participating in gardening and therapeutic horticulture programmes contribute to enhanced mental wellbeing. These findings underscore the important relationship between nature and our mental wellbeing, and highlight the significance of integrating natural elements into our surroundings. In fact, cities our size would tend to be urban concrete jungles. But the studies have validated, and in fact, affirmed the decision of our early pioneers to make sure that in developing and building our city in Singapore – one that is vibrant, successful, that greenery occupied an important position in urban planning. Not as an afterthought, not that something that you can leave till later, but make it part and parcel of what a liveable and sustainable city is, from day one. This is a stewardship role that we are committed to carrying on, and a torch that we must carry forward to the next generation in developing our city, making it green, protecting our green spaces must be among the top priorities.
So today, we have a total of 14 therapeutic gardens, including five that were newly opened in 2023, and we are on track to achieve our goal of 30 such gardens in our parks by the end of this decade. We will continue to engage the public on how we shape and enhance our green spaces.
In fact, to advance research on nature and mental wellbeing, NParks signed an MOU with the NUS Yeo Boon Khim Mind Science Centre in 2021. This partnership seeks to pursue research and collaborative activities, focusing on nature and mental health. Examples include studies on the impact of gardening on mental resilience during COVID-19, as well as exploring the effects of nature-based activities and their impact on the wellbeing of our seniors. These efforts will contribute to the scientific understanding informing future policy-making and infrastructure design, and allow us to reap the benefits of bringing Singaporeans ever closer to nature. I look forward to strengthening our partnership in the years to come.
More Support for Mental Health Practitioners
As we increasingly recognise the importance of mental wellbeing, we will need more Mental Health Practitioners to support the growing demands for mental healthcare. To expand the reach of mental healthcare, it is important that we encourage healthcare professionals, such as social workers and counsellors, to become Mental Health Practitioners – they are best placed to do so.
To support this, I am also glad to announce the launch of the Master of Clinical Mental Health and Psychotherapy programme by NUS today. This programme will fill the current training gap in Singapore, by equipping Mental Health Practitioners with clinical expertise and competencies that are needed to address Tier 2 and 3 mental health needs effectively. This will allow the Mental Health Practitioners to provide targeted mental health support to individuals with different severities of mental health needs.
The programme will bring in leading industry partners, such as social service agencies and healthcare providers, to provide supervised clinical placements and training. Our students will not only be exposed to general counselling and psychotherapy, but they will also be exposed to systemic and family therapy, to allow them to gain a better understanding of how different factors impact our mental health.
I encourage interested social service and healthcare professionals to apply for this programme, and look forward to your contributions in the years ahead.
Conclusion
I hope you have a wonderful time immersing yourselves in the exhibition today. And I hope that it will inspire all of us to recognise the synergies between nature and mental health, and to appreciate the value of the green and blue spaces around us as we better seek to transform into a City in Nature.
Thank you.