Case Study: Shaping Strategic Entry into Singapore’s Youth Mental Health Space
Project Type: Rapid landscape review
Project Duration: 8 weeks in 2024
Client: Family foundation
Geographical Area(s): Singapore
Sector(s): Youth Mental Health
Making a Mindful Entry
By 2030, mental health issues are predicted to be the leading cause of global mortality and morbidity.
​
Recognising the prevalence and severity of the issue, a newly established family foundation was keen to make their first thematic entry into the Singapore social sector by enhancing support for youth mental health. They aimed to begin programmatic grant-making for high-impact organisations in the space. To do so, they required a better understanding of the landscape to inform a structured, strategic approach to their philanthropy.
​
In engaging RIA, the Foundation sought a comprehensive landscape overview of the space to identify where their philanthropy could meaningfully fill existing gaps, alongside a clear, actionable strategy to guide the launch of philanthropic activities, including recommendations for partnerships aligned with their ethos. Crucially, the Foundation aimed to work in tandem with government initiatives, viewing this inaugural engagement as an opportunity to deepen relationships with local partners and refine their giving philosophy and approach.
​
Being new to structured philanthropy, the Foundation desired clarity on how to begin, and saw this engagement as foundational to shaping a thoughtful, strategic starting point.
Navigating a Nuanced Landscape
The key questions that guided the project’s direction were as follows:
​
-
What are the key considerations when engaging in the Singapore youth mental health space?
-
What do current support systems look like, and what opportunities for effective and impactful philanthropy exist?
-
Who are the main players in this space, and which partnerships align best with the Foundation?
In addressing these questions, RIA first embarked on a “Rapid Review” through desktop research, encompassing a deep dive into the Government’s National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy1, a scan of over 50 NGOs, and a systems-level overview of how the Government, NGOs, and Academia interact in the space.
​
In tandem, RIA conducted 31 primary interviews with a diverse range of stakeholders (including researchers, local and International NGOs, schools, activists, funders, and government-linked entities), gaining access to insights beyond the public domain.
Providing an overview of past governmental efforts in the mental health space.
The research built upon RIA’s prior experience in Singapore's mental health arena, and yielded a nuanced mapping of the existing ecosystem, challenges in the space, and prospective opportunities for the Foundation’s entry.
RIA’s research uncovered underlying structural challenges facing the mental health space, where targeted intervention would deliver outsized impact.:
​
-
Difficulty gathering evidence for the take-up of emerging innovations
-
Youth avoidance of school counsellors or “mental-health”-marketed programmes
-
Stiff funding competition against more established sectors
​
Designing a Multi-Level Impact Strategy
Facing an array of possible strategies, RIA distilled recommendations for impact into 3 key components:
Enhancing Frontline Services, Strengthening Systems, and Investing in Upstream Research.
​
These approaches were also aligned to the Foundation’s desired progression of learning and trust-building, complementing governmental efforts, and positioning for sustainable global impact.
​
Hence, a portfolio approach balancing near-term and long-term goals was proposed. Specific beneficiaries that converged with both sector needs and the Foundation’s goals were also identified for consideration. Accordingly, a Theory of Change mapping inputs to impact was developed to illustrate how the multi-faceted strategy would, combined, contribute to a more robust mental health ecosystem.
​
Informing Impactful Interventions
Beyond advisory, RIA provided fractional services during implementation, supporting grant processing and due diligence which helped the Foundation operationalise its first philanthropic strategy with confidence.
​
Following RIA’s recommendations, the Foundation has so far:
-
Launched a ($3 Million) scholarship to enhance mental health capacity building
-
Supported a recommended NGO with community-based mental health interventions, volunteer training, and programme development
Overall, the coverage of both depth and breadth in unpacking a complex landscape helped inform a comprehensive strategy for impact
“Stacey and Natalie were incredible advisors who brought deep insight and care to mapping mental health organizations that aligned with our foundation’s goals.
Their thoughtful recommendations and extensive network made a lasting difference.
I highly recommend Real Impact Advisors for their warm and personalized advice.”
Managing Director of Family Office and Foundation