Dear Dr Puthucheary,
I am writing to ask for your support in protecting Maju Forest because I believe it can make a meaningful contribution to Singapore’s vision of promoting mental health and wellbeing through prevention, resilience and community engagement. As Chair of the PAP Mental Health Group and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Mental Health and Well-being, you have championed a shift towards building mental wellbeing across society, not simply responding once illness has developed.
A growing body of research shows that biodiverse natural environments provide greater psychological benefits than highly managed parkland. Time spent in natural forests has been associated with lower stress, reduced anxiety, improved mood and better attention restoration. These are protective factors that help people cope with the everyday pressures of modern life before they require clinical intervention.
Natural forests also provide something increasingly rare in urban environments: opportunities for quiet reflection, awe and genuine connection with nature. These experiences encourage emotional regulation, mindfulness and resilience in ways that manicured landscapes cannot fully replicate because of their lower ecological complexity.
Singapore’s National Mental Health and Well-being Strategy rightly places strong emphasis on prevention, community wellbeing and reducing the need for medical intervention wherever possible. Protecting Maju Forest would complement these objectives by preserving a freely accessible environment that supports mental wellbeing across all ages, from children and young adults to working families and older Singaporeans.
Once a mature secondary forest is lost, decades of ecological development, and the distinctive experiences it provides, cannot simply be recreated elsewhere. Protecting Maju Forest would therefore represent a lasting investment in the mental wellbeing of future generations.
I respectfully ask that you support the permanent protection of Maju Forest, raise its importance within Parliament and Government discussions, and encourage a reconsideration of the current plans for the site in light of its long-term value to Singapore’s mental health and wellbeing.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely,