Dr Janhavi Ajit Vaingankar

Dr Janhavi Ajit Vaingankar has over 25 years of research experience ranging from experimental to epidemiology and public health research. She is a co-investigator for large national surveys, including the National Youth Mental Health Study, the Singapore Mental Health Study, and the Wellbeing of Singapore Elderly study. These studies have serially assessed the prevalence and determinants of mental health conditions, caregiving impacts, health literacy, and treatment needs in Singapore’s population. Her research also covers positive mental health and mental well-being, specifically among multi-ethnic Asian populations and youths. She has over 200 publications arising from her research.

Track Title: Prevalence of Mental Health Conditions in Youth and Emerging Trends in Singapore
Date: 17 July 2025, Thursday
Time: 3.40 PM
Breakout Session: Track 2 – Emerging Trends & Insights

Synopsis
Youth is a critical life stage, marked by rapid changes in academic, social, and emotional environments of individuals. These often have long-lasting influences on their mental health and adult life. The incidence of mental health disorders peaks during the transition from childhood to adulthood, with up to one fourth of youths experiencing significant mental health problems before they turn 25. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic and worsening international turmoil have shone a spotlight on youth mental health like never before. Despite these critical drivers, most youths do not seek appropriate and timely treatment, resulting in adverse health outcomes and disease burden. The National Youth Mental Health Study was a cross-sectional survey of 2600 nationally representative youths that established the prevalence of depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms among Singaporean youths, identified psychosocial risk and protective factors and investigated mental healthcare service use patterns in this population. The speaker will present findings from this study and draw comparisons with the global youth mental health situation.