The Jardine Matheson Group’s registered charity, MINDSET Care, pledges $1 million to launch Singapore’s first and only facility, dedicated to supporting individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This project is launched in partnership with registered Institution of Public Character charity - Unlocking ADHD Ltd.
Unlocking ADHD–MINDSET Support Hub (UA-Mindset Support Hub) is an ADHD-centric initiative developed to improve awareness, access and support for ADHD, serving undiagnosed or late-diagnosed adults and youths, as well as their families. The hub aims to enhance ADHD support by developing programmes and interventions that are evidence-based and designed with and for the community to ensure relevance and impact.
Building on MINDSET’s seed-and-scale approach, the $1 million pledge will provide foundational funding for UA-MINDSET Support Hub. The three-year investment will enable the hub to support more than 100 individuals annually through over 1,000 hours of ADHD-tailored counselling services.
Addressing an underserved need
Academic research has estimated the prevalence of ADHD in Singapore among children and adolescents to range between 5% and 8%, and among adults to range between 2% and 7%. It also reflected that 88% of adults and 72% of children with ADHD experience at least one co-occurring condition such as anxiety, depression, or learning disabilities.
Despite these worrying statistics, the public’s awareness of this neurodevelopment disorder remains low. This is further exacerbated by the existence of misconceptions, diagnostic challenges and a lack of understanding from not just the public but also professionals. As a result, many of those living with ADHD in Singapore either fall through the gaps, or face issues relating to treatment continuity, workplace inclusion and a lack of educational support.
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Based on a study conducted by UA, about 70% of children with ADHD expressed trouble progressing in school, while approximately 40% of working adults experienced trouble maintaining employment. The study also highlighted the impact of ADHD extends beyond the individuals themselves, with 79% of adult ADHDers and parents of ADHD children indicating family relationships were negatively affected due to the condition. The significant impact on individuals and families underscores the urgency for support to address this widespread but underserved need.
UA-MINDSET Support Hub will serve as an inclusive touchpoint for the ADHD community, offering a holistic and integrated support ecosystem.
In its first year, the hub will focus on delivering core services such as ADHD-informed counselling and psychoeducation programmes. It will also support parents through dedicated workshops to better equip families in managing ADHD-related challenges at home. Across the subsequent years of the funding support, the hub will expand through hybrid care models that integrate online and in-person services, and pilot school-based programmes to address ADHD challenges in educational settings.
The launch of UA-MINDSET Support Hub aligns closely with national initiatives such as the National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy 2023, which emphasises improving the mental health ecosystem where people with mental health needs can seek help without stigma, and Singapore’s Enabling Masterplan 2030, which aims to increase the employment rate of residents with disabilities to 40% by 2030.
Since 2011, MINDSET has channelled over $11 million into mental health projects in Singapore, along with committing more than 58,000 employee volunteer hours to support the community and providing over 300 job placements for persons with mental health issues within the Jardine Matheson Group.
