Singapore, Indonesia's Neighbour, Faces Psychologist Shortage Crisis

Singapore is facing a crisis in the supply of psychologists amid increasing public awareness of mental health. This situation has arisen alongside a surge in the number of residents seeking professional help in recent years. However, the availability of psychologists has yet to match the rising demand. On the other hand, observers note that training new psychologists requires a long qualification pathway. The limited local training facilities also pose a major challenge. Psychology student at Monash University Jerein Sandrasageran also acknowledges that becoming a professional psychologist is a difficult path. “We know that we need postgraduate education to be accepted or to truly carry out this work, and we also need experience,” said Jerein, quoting Channel News Asia on Thursday (19/3/2026). “So we’re kind of stuck in the middle, without experience yet, but also without further education. And if there’s no opportunity to gain experience effectively, we’ll remain stuck.” Generally, it takes seven years to become a qualified psychologist, starting from a bachelor’s degree. After graduating, they must undergo clinical practice to gain supervised experience before enrolling in a postgraduate programme. After graduating, they must undergo clinical practice to gain supervised experience before enrolling in a postgraduate programme. Costs also present a barrier, especially if aspiring psychologists must pursue education abroad due to limited local programmes. Vice President of the Singapore Psychological Society Pearlene Ng said that the decision to become a professional psychologist requires significant sacrifices, not only for oneself but also for the family. She also highlighted that limited placement opportunities and a shortage of qualified supervisors make it difficult for many psychologists to progress. Even when students secure placements, they still need to handle clients willing to cooperate to meet the required training hours. However, the public often hesitates to consult with student interns or psychologists in training, thus reducing their chances of gaining practical experience. Nevertheless, the association is now exploring collaborations with higher education institutions to expand placement locations and better prepare students for the workforce. Accelerated Training National University of Singapore (NUS) has recently launched an accelerated pathway that allows students to complete training in five years, faster than the usual seven. Lohsnah Jeevanandam, Director of the Clinical Psychology Programme at NUS’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, explained that the new structure uses a three-plus-two/three format: a bachelor’s degree followed by a two-year master’s programme. The undergraduate portion has been made more intensive, with fewer elective course options. Additionally, students are no longer required to have one year of work experience before proceeding to the master’s programme. However, they must complete certain specified courses, unlike the previous more flexible requirements. Dr Lohsnah added that the curriculum has also been redesigned to be more practical and not solely focused on theory. As another step to bolster the sector, psychologists in certain fields will soon be required to register before practising in Singapore. This policy aims to raise professional standards, ensure patient safety, and expand access to mental health services. According to Dr Ng, this measure will protect public interests by ensuring that practitioners work ethically, meet necessary requirements, and have adequate training to deliver services to standard.