Last Updated: 16 Oct 2026
Pillar 1: Strengthening mental health and well-being for all
MOE takes an upstream and preventive approach to strengthen students' mental health and well-being. Through the curriculum, school environment and everyday experiences, students develop the skills, relationships and support needed to navigate challenges and seek help when needed.
1. Mental Health Education
Mental Health Education is part of the Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) curriculum from primary to pre-university levels. Students learn to:
- Build resilience and healthy coping strategies
- Show care and empathy for others
- Recognise signs of distress
- Know when, where and how to seek help
Check out how some schools have levelled up students’ resilience with CCE lessons and other activities.
2. Cyber wellness and digital well-being
Students’ well-being in the digital space is an integral part of their overall well-being. Digital technology offers important opportunities for learning, connection and recreation, but students may also encounter risks such as excessive screen use, cyberbullying and harmful online influences.
Cyber Wellness Education equips students with the values, knowledge and skills to use technology safety and responsibility, develop healthy digital habits, build resilience against online harms and exercise sound judgment online. Schools work with parents to reinforce these habits at home.
3. Caring and enabling school environment
Schools create safe and caring environments where students feel accepted and connected. Positive relationships and a sense of belonging are important protective factors for students’ mental health and resilience.
Schools dedicate time for teachers to get to know their students, build positive relationships and check in on their well-being. Form teachers connect with students through daily interactions, classroom activities and dedicated conversations.
Peer support structures are also established in every school. All students learn through CCE to look out for and support one another, while selected Peer Support Leaders (PSL) receive additional training to listen, support their peers in age-appropriate ways and encourage help-seeking from trusted adults. Together, these efforts help build a caring and supportive school culture.
4. Student Development Experiences
Beyond the classroom, students participate in Student Development Experiences (SDE), such as Co-Curricular Activities (CCA), outdoor adventure learning cohort camps, and Values in Action (VIA). These experiences provide opportunities for students to navigate challenges alongside their peers, such as overcoming obstacles during cohort camps, persevering through a demanding CCA training session, and apply what they have learnt about resilience and well-being to overcome day-to-day difficulties.
Through shared experiences, students discover their interests and strengths, forge friendships, and deepen their sense of belonging to the school and community.
SDEs also help students exercise greater agency and independence, take responsibility for their own learning, develop sound reasoning and decision-making skills and care for their peers.
5. Supporting students to navigate academic challenges
Learning involves effort, perseverance and working through challenges. Schools design assignments with clear learning intent. To keep homework purposeful and manageable, schools have a homework policy and regularly review their homework practices, with due consideration for student learning and well-being.
Assessment is an integral part of the learning process. It helps students understand their learning progress, identify areas for improvement, and receive feedback to close learning gaps. While some anxiety or stress before assessments is normal, MOE works closely with schools to keep assessment demands within manageable bounds and support students who experience assessment anxiety.
Through the CCE curriculum and other school experiences, students learn strategies to manage stress, build resilience and cope with setbacks. Students are also encouraged to seek support from trusted adults when they feel overwhelmed.
6. Opportunities for physical activity
Schools provide students with a range of opportunities to be physically active, including Physical Education, CCAs, unstructured play and other school-based programmes.
Regular physical activity supports students' overall health and well-being. It can help students better manage stress, improve their mood and build self-esteem. Participating in physical activities with others also provides opportunities for students to develop social skills and strengthen peer relationships, which are protective factors associated with mental health and well-being.
Check out how a strong foundation in sports can hone life skills and lifelong emotional sustenance.
Other related information
Learn more about the other 2 pillars: