Ms Chan Lay Lin

Chan Lay Lin is recognised for her pioneering contributions to mental health social work in Singapore, spanning clinical excellence, programme innovation, and sector leadership. With over three decades of experience, she has advanced systemic psychotherapy, elevated mental health education, and developed impactful support programmes for families and communities.

At the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Lay Lin established Singapore’s first medical family therapy services and created operational guidelines that positioned family therapy as an essential component of psychiatric care. She continues to practise and supervise junior practitioners in systemic psychotherapy, championing high clinical standards and compassionate client engagement. The Resilience Programme—developed in 2008 for children of parents with mental illness—has empowered families through life skills education and long-term casework, reflecting her commitment to sustainable, holistic support.

A passionate educator and sector builder, Lay Lin has played a key role in shaping mental health curricula for professionals and students. She helped integrate mental health modules into National University of Singapore's social work programmes and has trained staff across agencies including Ministry of Education, National Environment Agency, and the Airport Emergency Service. Under her leadership, the IMH Medical Social Work department has become a respected hub for community training and supervision, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also developed internal telehealth work instructions for clinical and training use and co-organised an online symposium sharing best practices for virtual care delivery.

Her research contributions include validating a locally developed social acuity tool for Medical Social Workers and advancing population health research through National Healthcare Group. As a Social Service Fellow, she continues to mentor emerging leaders and influence sector-wide capability development.

Beyond her professional roles, Lay Lin has served on the Adult Protection Review Board, Big Love Child Protection Service case meetings, and the National Organ Transplant Ethics Panel. Her previous volunteer work with Samaritans of Singapore and Singapore Hospice Council, as well as crisis deployments, demonstrate her compassion and resilience.

For her clinical innovation, commitment to education, and lifelong service to vulnerable individuals and communities, Lay Lin is awarded the President’s Award 2025.