Professional Community Forum – Human Behaviour in Crises: Reactions, Response, Resilience – Speech by Ms Sim Ann, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs & Second Minister for Home Affairs

Home Team Leaders

Officers from the Home Team and the Other Agencies

Members of the Psychology Community

Community Partners

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

1. A very good morning to all of you. I am glad to join you at this professional community forum on “Human Behaviour in Crises”.

2. Whether you are from a public agency, a mental health community or a partner organisation, we are united by a shared commitment to a safe and resilient Singapore. Thank you for joining us today. I encourage all of you to connect, to exchange ideas and to build new partnerships.

The Human Dimension of Crisis Psychology

3. This morning’s theme – “Reactions, Response, Resilience” – captures the human experience of a crisis: how people react in an emergency, how we respond to their needs, and how individuals and communities recover and emerge stronger.

4. This reminds us that an effective crisis response requires more than operational measures. We must also address the human dimension. Even after the immediate threat has passed, fear and uncertainty can linger, affecting how quickly people regain confidence and resume their daily lives.

5. The COVID-19 pandemic showed why this human dimension matters. Our medical and operational response was crucial, but so was helping people cope. Singaporeans followed public health measures, adapted to disruption and supported one another. The experience showed that an effective crisis response depends on both operational capability and psychological preparedness.

6. We cannot predict every crisis, but we can prepare before one strikes. Just as Home Team officers train regularly and conduct multi-agency exercises with community partners, we must also strengthen our psychological preparedness.

7. This calls for all of us to work together. Public agencies, mental health professionals, social service practitioners and community partners each bring distinct expertise and reach. By combining these strengths before a crisis, we will be better placed to respond when one occurs.

Reactions, Response and Resilience

8. Let me share what the three elements of “Reactions, Response and Resilience” mean for psychological preparedness.

9. When a crisis strikes, we must understand how people are likely to react. Fear and confusion are natural, but people experience them differently. Recognising these differences strengthens our operational planning. It helps us communicate clearly, counter misinformation and identify those who may need additional support.

10. Understanding how people react is only the first step. We must also be ready to respond decisively and adapt when a crisis takes an unexpected turn. Organisations must identify their vulnerabilities and understand how risks can spread across interconnected systems. MHA must therefore work closely with other public agencies and community partners to identify gaps, conduct joint training and exercises, and respond collectively.

11. Finally, we must build resilience from the outset. Resilience is not simply about returning to normal. It is also about restoring confidence, strengthening social bonds and helping people regain a sense of agency after a crisis. Resilience is built before a crisis strikes, tested by challenges and helps us to recover stronger.

12. Our three distinguished speakers today will elaborate on these elements, drawing on their experience as practitioners and researchers. Together, their perspectives reflect MHA’s commitment to working with our partners to build psychological and social preparedness before a crisis strikes.

Building Collective Preparedness

13. As SGSecure marks its 10th anniversary this year, we are grateful that Singapore remains safe and secure through the efforts of our Home Team agencies, community partners and committed individuals. This milestone is also a timely reminder that crisis preparedness is a shared responsibility, and every part of our community has a role to play.

14. To strengthen this shared approach, we launched the HEART Professionals Network in 2025. The Network brings together professionals from the Singapore Psychological Society, Singapore Association of Social Workers, Singapore Association for Counselling, Singapore Psychiatric Association and the Home Team. Through their professional and community networks, HEART members enable us to reach and support more people during a crisis.

15. HEART complements MHA’s operational response by helping people understand what is happening, manage their concerns and access support where needed. Together, we can help people feel assured and calm, take appropriate action and regain confidence during and after a crisis.

Launch of the HEART Associates Youth Wing

16. Today, I am pleased to launch the next phase of HEART initiative,which is the HEART Associates Youth Wing.

17. In a crisis, young people, like everyone else, can experience psychological distress. When facing adversity, some may turn to friends and peers first for support and comfort.

18. During such moments, members of the HEART Associates Youth Wing are well-placed to support their peers in three important ways.

19. First, they can be trusted messengers, helping to share accurate information within their youth networks.

20. Second, they can serve as youth peer supporters, equipped with psychological first aid skills to offer initial support and refer peers who need further help to appropriate services.

21. Finally, they can be resilience builders, encouraging young people to look out for one another and strengthening psychological preparedness in their own communities.

22. I am heartened by the strong response from young people, with close to 100 expressing interest in joining the Youth Wing. I thank each of you who has stepped forward to serve.

Conclusion

23. Today’s inaugural forum and the launch of the HEART Associates Youth Wing underscore an important point: our ability to withstand a crisis depends not only on our operational response, but also on the psychological preparedness and resilience of our people.

24. I hope today’s insights and conversations will deepen our understanding of how people react in a crisis, strengthen our ability to respond to their needs, and help us support their recovery.

25. By doing so, we can all help keep Singapore resilient, cohesive and safe. I wish everyone a fruitful forum and a great day ahead. Thank you.