Survey finds parents struggle with children’s digital, mental health needs; new centre offers help

A recent survey of more than 300 parents in Singapore reveals many parents feel unsure about how to manage their children's digital habits and mental health, a situation that the 2025 study highlights. While nearly 58% of parents reported their children experiencing mental health issues in the past year, just 17% connected these struggles to digital causes.

Eighty percent of parents expressed a lack of confidence in recognizing signs of mental distress in their children, and the majority also had difficulties in monitoring their children's screen time or blocking unsuitable content. Only roughly one in five parents felt confident in guiding their children towards responsible digital behavior.

In response to these findings, TOUCH Cyber Wellness, a non-profit agency under TOUCH Community Services, has launched DigitallyUs@Marine Parade, which is touted as Singapore's first integrated care model connecting digital wellness and mental health support for young people and their families. Wendy Tan, the deputy director of TOUCH Cyber Wellness, explains that while digital platforms like gaming and social media can provide some relief from stress, loneliness, or anxiety, they can also impact mood, relationships, and overall well-being.

The DigitallyUs center tackles this issue through four key areas. The first is outreach and advocacy, which seeks to build a shared understanding of digital wellness among policymakers, school leaders, and community stakeholders. The second component is MINDCove, an immersive, sensory-based learning space where young people can engage in guided scenarios reflecting real-world digital situations, like cyberbullying.

Meanwhile, the third component involves targeted intervention and counselling programs for those requiring more structured help. The final element, Connection Cove, offers a sustained recovery and support ecosystem that aids young people in maintaining their progress post-intervention through peer mentoring and continuous engagement with families.

Over the next three years, TOUCH Cyber Wellness aims to reach more than 16,000 young people and parents through school programs, parent education, early intervention, counselling, and ongoing community support. The DigitallyUs center was officially opened on August 18 by Singapore's Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, and Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development, Goh Pei Ming.

Some of the guests who had a chance to experience MINDCove were 15-year-old students Mithra Mahendran and Isaac Yeo from Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School. They both shared how the experience helped them recognize their own internet usage habits. Mithra mentioned, "My doom scrolling needs to stop. Often I tell myself just one more video, then I realized I had scrolled through several and it was a waste of time."

Isaac added, "We were shown scenarios of how cyberbullying can be subtle. We never realized what we were doing in group chats could be deemed as such. I have to be more sensitive to my friends’ mistakes and not pick on them."