A new initiative in Singapore aims to provide young people with a supportive space to share their thoughts without the formality of counselling sessions. Launched on August 26 by social enterprise Empact, Chat Circles pairs youth aged 15 to 28 with trained volunteer listeners for hour-long conversations focused on their concerns and experiences.
Unlike traditional therapy, the programme offers a non-clinical environment free from assessments, unsolicited advice, or expectations. Each monthly session can accommodate up to 200 participants and will continue through July 2027. Empact intends to partner with tertiary institutions to hold events on campuses as well as collaborate with community organisations serving underprivileged youth.
Chat Circles forms part of a broader mental well-being and resilience effort under the five-year SG Youth Plan initiated by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the National Youth Council (NYC). Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Goh Hanyan, who officiated the launch, noted that many young people struggle with life transitions and uncertainties. She emphasized the importance of supporting youth by ensuring they do not navigate challenges alone.
Empact’s deputy chief executive, Yap Keng Hwee, highlighted barriers that prevent young people from seeking formal mental health support, such as stigma and financial costs. Inspired by similar community initiatives overseas, Chat Circles aims to offer upstream emotional support while encouraging offline social interaction at a time when digital communication dominates. “We are trying to create a safe space for them to come back to human interaction,” Yap said.
The programme’s objective is not to solve participants’ problems directly but to help them recognize their strengths and build resilience. At the inaugural session, 14 young people from polytechnics and universities—some with disabilities—gathered at grove, a youth wellness venue located at Scape near Orchard Road. Polytechnic student Jordan Reed Oliveiro, 19, shared that he often feels disconnected from friends and is seeking more meaningful engagement beyond brief conversations and online exchanges. Having dealt with depressive episodes previously, Oliveiro values the opportunity to express himself in a supportive setting.
The event began with a mindfulness activity led by a deaf facilitator from the social enterprise Hush Bazaar, which included breathing techniques and teaching sign language for emotions. Participants were then paired with volunteer listeners aged 21 and above who had completed a three-hour training provided by The School of Positive Psychology.
One volunteer listener, educator Noor Aishah Haja Mohideen, who became a mental health advocate after her children faced depression and anxiety, described the sessions as natural and conversational rather than formal counselling. Another listener present was Workers’ Party MP He Ting Ru, who attended in a personal capacity. She affirmed that the initiative offers young people a non-judgmental space to be heard and reflected on how people working with youth can also gain insight from such interactions.
Confidentiality is strictly maintained: neither participants nor volunteers exchange contact information. Volunteers are equipped to refer individuals to professional therapists present at each session if more structured support is needed.
Young people interested in participating can register for Chat Circles through the National Youth Council’s Discover portal.