Yes, that is exactly the broader context. While this specific Duke-NUS study focuses on *who is willing to accept help*, a massive wave of national data in Singapore confirms that youth and young adults are indeed bearing the heaviest mental health burden.   The numbers from recent benchmark studies show just how serious the issue has become:    * **The 1-in-3 Statistic:** The landmark *National Youth Mental Health Study* conducted by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) found that **about one in three young people** (aged 15 to 35) in Singapore report experiencing severe or extremely severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress.    * **The Highest Proportion:** According to Singapore's *National Population Health Survey*, young adults aged 18 to 29 consistently report the highest rates of poor mental health compared to any other age group in the country.   ### What is driving this spike in youth mental health issues? Local researchers and the Ministry of Health (MOH) point to a unique combination of modern stressors that heavily impact younger generations:    * **The Social Media Ecosystem:** Studies show heavy links between high distress and **excessive social media use, cyberbullying, and intense body image concerns**. Younger people are constantly exposed to digital spaces that can fuel inadequacy or social isolation.    * **Academic and Transitional Pressure:** The intense pressure of the Singapore education system, combined with the stress of transitioning into a highly competitive, high-cost job market, creates a pressure-cooker environment for young adults.    * **Greater Literacy vs. High Distress:** Because young people are highly aware of mental health, they are much better at identifying their own symptoms. However, this high awareness hasn't automatically translated into knowing *how* to manage severe stress, which is why so many suffer from clinical-level anxiety or depression.   ### The Response: Why the government is pivoting to "Peer Support"   Because the sheer number of youths needing help is outstripping the number of available psychologists and psychiatrists, Singapore launched its **National Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy**.   A major pillar of this strategy is scaling up community networks like **CHAT** (the national youth mental health outreach service) and **CREST-Youth**. Since younger people are already the most open to peer support, the goal is to train youth mentors to catch their friends *before* they spiral into a severe crisis, freeing up hospital resources for the most critical clinical cases.

A Duke-NUS Medical School study finds 77 per cent of Singapore adults with anxiety or depression symptoms have not sought professional help, yet 62 per cent express openness to peer support as a community-based alternative.   https://theonlinecitizen.com/2026/06/25/most-singaporeans-with-anxiety-or-depression-have-not-sought-professional-help-duke-nus-study-finds   The Duke-NUS Medical School study offers a deep dive into how Singaporeans navigate anxiety and depression, highlighting a significant gap in formal care alongside a clear interest in community-based alternatives. Published in the *Singapore Medical Journal* on May 21, 2026, the study reveals several core insights into help-seeking behaviors, format preferences, and the demographic factors driving openness to peer support.   ### The Help-Seeking Gap While a staggering **77%** of Singaporean adults with symptoms of anxiety or depression have not sought professional care (from psychiatrists, psychologists, or social workers), **62%** are open to receiving help from peers with similar backgrounds or lived experiences.   Co-author Associate Professor Daniel Fung (Senior Consultant at the Institute of Mental Health) noted that **stigma and fear of judgment** remain deep-rooted barriers. Many Singaporeans are especially hesitant to disclose mental health struggles in workplace settings due to fears that it could impact job security or career progression.   ### Delivery Preferences Among those open to peer support, the study outlined clear preferences for how they want to receive it:    * **Format:** One-on-one sessions are highly favored (**51%**) over group-based formats (**21%**).    * **Modality:** Virtual delivery is preferred (**43%**) over in-person interactions (**27%**).    * **Top Combination:** Virtual, one-on-one sessions are the single most popular option (**26%**).    * **Gender Differences:**    Women are significantly more likely to prefer virtual formats, which researchers attribute to balancing disproportionate household and childcare responsibilities.   When asked what they hope to gain from peer support, participants prioritized **emotional support (69%)**, followed by **coping skills (52%)**, **knowledge of treatment options (50%)**, and **connections to relevant resources (47%)**.   ### Who is Most Open to Peer Support?   The study identified specific groups that showed a much higher statistical willingness to try peer support:    * **The Best Predictor:**    Individuals who have previously served as a peer support mentor themselves. A massive **91%** of this group expressed openness to receiving it.    * **Younger Adults:**    Each additional year of age slightly decreased interest, which researchers link to a higher generational awareness and normalization of mental health topics among younger Singaporeans.    * **Recent Care-Seekers:**    People who had utilized formal mental health care in the previous three months were **twice as likely** to want peer support. This indicates that formal and community care act as complements rather than substitutes.    * **White-Collar Managers:**    Managers and directors are significantly more open to peer support than non-managerial staff. Researchers attribute this to higher health literacy, heavy work stress, and having fewer natural peer networks at senior levels.   *Note: Surprisingly, gender and the overall severity of symptoms had no meaningful impact on whether a person was open to peer support.*   ### Barriers to Peer Support For the 38% of respondents who are *not* open to peer support, their main hesitations stem from structural and quality concerns:  * **Confidentiality:** 45% worry about their privacy.    * **Lack of Professional Training:** 43% are wary of talking to someone who isn't a licensed medical professional.    * **Efficacy:** 37% doubt that peer support would actually help them.    * **Logistics:** Time commitments (31%) and cost (16%) were also noted.   Senior author Professor Eric Finkelstein emphasized that these worries mean peer support cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution. For community programs to work effectively, they need rigorous training for mentors, clear role boundaries, and careful integration with professional care pathways rather than trying to replace them entirely.   ### Study Methodology & Limitations   The study surveyed **350 adults** between April 2022 and June 2022, using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) to identify symptoms. The researchers acknowledged a few limitations, including an online recruitment bias (participants were drawn from a web panel, meaning they were naturally more tech-literate) and the fact that most respondents were under the age of 50.   Additionally, a critical **38% of respondents** with symptoms fell into a silent gap—they have neither sought formal professional help nor expressed any interest in peer support, highlighting a key group that community outreach programs still need to figure out how to reach.

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