Workshops & Site Visits

This workshop emphasizes the interconnected dynamics of mental health demand and supply within an ecosystem. In this workshop, we will journey through the process of addressing challenges faced by a mental health-focused organizations—from identifying issues to proposing strategies and planning implementation. The workshop begins with an exploration of demand-side gaps and then identify challenges from the supply-side. Participants engage in hands-on activities to understand potential supply chain inefficiencies. Embracing a collaborative approach as a team in the workshop, we co-create actionable solutions that navigate constraints on both the demand and supply sides and drive scalable and measurable improvements in organizations

The mental health field recognizes that co-creation with communities and centering people with lived experience in intervention development improves outcomes. Digital mental health, which uses technology to enhance access and well-being, is a promising approach given the shortage of mental health practitioners. To make evidence-based interventions more widely applicable, cultural adaptation is crucial. Co-creation brings together people with lived experience, experts, frontline workers, and policymakers to develop culturally relevant solutions. This workshop will cover co-creation in mental health, strategies for community engagement, key principles and frameworks, and the process of co-creating a culturally adapted digital intervention for depression, based on WHO's Step-by-Step program in China.

The business case for a diverse workforce working in an inclusive environment is well accepted. The global workforce today can potentially be more diverse than ever before in human history. Technological advancement that allows colleagues from all over the world to work seamlessly together; medical advancements that prolong productive life; increased acceptance of flexible and remote working especially post Covid19 etc. are some of the contributing factors. These changes, however, have also created increased challenges for mental wellbeing in the workplace and in the community beyond. Emotional distress, anxiety disorders, burnout, depression, grief, cognitive function impairment and PTSD are among the reported repercussions. Extreme cases have been linked with suicide or suicidal thoughts. 

People from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, genders, age, ethnicity, sexuality and cognitive differences in the way they function, face varying challenges related to their mental health and well-being. Intersectionaity between these factors further exacerbates the issue. To understand, identify and manage the ramifications of mental ill-health, diversity data needs to be optimized for targeted support to the most vulnerable groups. At the same time, well thought through DEI policies that create a psychologically safe work environment for all play a vital role in mitigating mental health issues. As such DEI and Mental Wellbeing considerations need to be aligned for positive impact. 

In this workshop, we will explore the demographic and cognitive inequalities that disproportionately exacerbate mental ill health. We will pay special attention to regional differences in the recognition of causes for mental ill-health, the associated stigma and the evolving trends in management, mitigation and treatment. This session will involve discussion with experts and active engagement with the audience. Participants will be encouraged to raise questions, share experiences and contribute to the collective learning of the group.

This workshop brings together expertise from clinical practice, research, and advocacy to address the complexities of perinatal mental health across diverse contexts. Participants will gain insights into current challenges, innovative strategies, and collaborative approaches to supporting mental health during the perinatal period, with a special focus on integrating perspectives from multiple countries including Singapore, India and Indonesia. Join us for an interactive session designed to inspire and inform!

Evaluating global health projects is complex, especially in the mental health space. Beyond developing effective interventions, it's crucial to incorporate the voices of those with lived experience and account for delayed changes in behavior or condition.  A comprehensive evaluation therefore, is vital for ensuring that projects are on track and poised to achieve intended outcomes or impact. This hands-on workshop will aim to introduce to the participants, the major concepts of the evaluation of global mental health projects implemented in, primarily but not limited to, low- and middle-income countries.  Participants will also learn to identify different types of evaluations based on the stage of their project, select SMART indicators, design a LogFrame and more. 

Despite the well-intentioned introduction of workplace wellbeing programmes in many organisations, there is little evidence that employee wellbeing is improving. While individual wellbeing programmes (i.e. counselling, workshops, peer support training) are essential as a baseline, they typically exist as vertical offerings that address the symptoms not the causes of poor employee wellbeing. This interactive workshop will explore what other strategies organisations need to take, from the CEO down, to create healthier and more supportive behaviours horizontally throughout an organisation to not only impact employee wellbeing but also business performance.

The planet is burning, and it is affecting the health of our brains and hearts. There is growing evidence that extreme events like cyclones and heatwaves are causing mental stress, and that young people are developing "climate anxiety," deeply worried about their uncertain future. This workshop will introduce the evolving nexus of climate change and mental health; present emerging evidence and unpack knowledge gaps; and showcase practices and solutions for coping and adapting in order to thrive - not only physically but also psychologically - in the era of planetary emergency.

This workshop delves into leveraging digital technology for targeted mental health education through social listening. Participants will learn to use freely available tools, such as Google Search and Google Trends, to capture trending keywords and conversations on mental health topics. The session will also focus on identifying emerging concerns from digitally available information derived from online health information seeking behaviours. Insights from this session can help shape geographically sensitive educational content. Together, we will explore strategies to make mental health digital communication more timely and effective.

Strategies for wellbeing at work is fundamental – but the best strategy if implemented poorly would serve no purpose. Usually, we gravitate towards reviewing what went “wrong” in the process and try to “fix it”. We will take an unusual route: this workshop focuses on a key element that is sometimes ignored, or avoided – the role of leadership and followership on workplace mental health. 

 

In this interactive workshop, we will use a group psychodynamic lens to understand leadership in teams: how we show up as leaders, why others follow us, and how does this sustain (or destroy) a sense of wellbeing at work for employees. We will discuss the psychological concept of “Containment” in leadership roles to gain a deeper understanding of unconscious factors that affect the way we lead and follow others. Going beyond the typical list of do’s and don’ts as a leader in wellbeing initiatives, we will explore underlying (sometimes unconscious) group anxiety, and learn the kinds of conversations to have that can engage with the anxiety, in order to build wellbeing into the bedrock of team and organizational culture through the way we lead. 

 

After all, workplace mental is not only a task, but at the core, about people. Come prepared to practice and experience!

This workshop examines how business schools have collaborated with social impact organizations across the healthcare sector—engaging through the lenses of strategy, marketing, finance, and operations—to address inequities in access to healthcare and to help them scale their impact. By exploring key learnings from these partnerships, we will uncover valuable insights on overcoming barriers and driving sustainable growth. While these organizations span various areas of healthcare, the session will focus on how their approaches can be applied to address challenges in mental health, ultimately transforming how we tackle social stigmas and expand access to treatment.

Balancing work and family life can be challenging, especially for parents juggling professional demands alongside caregiving responsibilities. This workshop aims to 1) foster a supportive space to discuss common challenges faced by working parents and share insights; 2) equip participants with effective mental health management strategies tailored for working parents; and 3) provide tools for creating a sustainable work-life balance. We will also discuss how organizations can foster a culture that acknowledges and alleviates the unique pressures faced by working parents. This interactive session is designed to empower participants with resources and techniques for thriving both at work and home, including finding purpose and meaning in their work.

Hush TeaBar creates immersive, silent experiences that blend mindfulness with the art of tea appreciation. Guided by Deaf facilitators, the sessions invite participants to pause, reflect, and reconnect with themselves in a tranquil, noise-free environment. During this workshop, participants will have an opportunity to discover the profound impact of silence as they engage in a transformative journey toward mental well-being.

Improving access and availability of mental health support and care is a critical priority across all countries. This is recognized widely; however, many countries and regions continue to struggle to put this into practice even if the policies may reflect intent. This workshop will explore the approaches, evidence, best practices, challenges and barriers towards making mental health care and psychosocial support more widely available through government action using case studies in Indonesia and India along with sharing of experience.

In this candid and inspiring panel, CEOs and leaders open up about their personal journeys with mental health, sharing both challenges and resilience in navigating high-stakes roles while managing their well-being. Through heartfelt stories, the panellists will dismantle stigmas and discuss strategies they have embraced to balance personal mental health with the demands of leadership and to drive initiatives for meaningful workplace change. Attendees will gain unique insights into how leaders tackle mental health, learning how vulnerability, authenticity, and support networks have become essential to their leadership. This conversation seeks to foster a sense of solidarity and remind us all that, regardless of our roles, none of us are alone in our experiences.

The Greenhouse is a recovery centre for marginalised and vulnerable communities, helping women, those who are LGBT, racial minority or HIV positive heal from trauma and outgrow addiction. It provides competent and compassionate care that does not further stigmatise or retraumatise those who seek help at the centre, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. This site visit will provide an introduction to the work and research conducted at The Greenhouse.

Gain insights into IMH’s vital role in providing comprehensive mental healthcare. This site visit will include an informative presentation on IMH’s services and a guided visit to two locations within IMH, offering a glimpse into how they support individuals in their journey to recovery.

This site visit to KKH will focus on services for children and youth, including tours of the children’s emergency wards, clinics and innovative art programmes. This will be followed by talks on 1) tiered interventions for psychosomatic symptoms 2) psychosocial screening in children’s emergency and transdiagnostic brief interventions for children and adolescents 3) paediatrician-led mental health service.  

As part of the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy, MOHT is co-leading with the Ministry of Health a person-centred digital mental health blueprint that promotes help-seeking behaviour, encourages self-care, and facilitates the appropriate siting of care. This site visit will cover the blueprint and mindline.sg's suite of digital solutions (including mindline.sg, mindline@work, youth mindline, and let’s talk).

The National Gallery Singapore’s Strength Through Art (stART) programme is an emotional literacy art programme designed to foster resilience in adolescents. This site visit will provide participants with a unique opportunity to experience firsthand the power of art in promoting mental health and well-being.

Discover how NUS prioritises the wellbeing of both staff and students through a comprehensive, university-wide approach which spans various programmes and initiatives. This site visit includes an exclusive tour of NUS, where participants will visit dedicated wellbeing spaces like WellNUS Space for staff and Pitstop for students, environments which foster wellness and a sense of belonging and community in the NUS staff and student body.

During this site visit, Silver Ribbon (Singapore) will share innovative means through which they have advocated for mental health since 2006. The visit will focus on programmes tailored to raise awareness on mental health, reduce mental health stigma and enhance the acceptance of persons with mental health issues.