The number of caregivers under 35 years old in the MINDSibs support programme has doubled from around 160 in 2021 to over 320 this year, marking a significant rise in young people caring for siblings with special needs in Singapore [1, 2, 3].
MINDSibs was launched in 2010 by social service agency MINDS to support siblings of persons with special needs. It offers activities like camps and small group discussions to provide emotional support and community [1, 2, 3].
Siblings often face emotional struggles, feeling overlooked or pressured and sometimes hiding their challenges to avoid burdening their parents [1, 2, 3]. MINDS encourages early involvement of siblings in care to ensure smooth transitions and future caregiving plans [1, 2, 3].
Singapore’s declining fertility rate combined with rising diagnoses of special needs means fewer people may share caregiving duties in the future [1, 2, 3]. As a result, siblings often act as secondary caregivers, assisting with logistics and emotional support rather than full daily care responsibility [1, 2, 3].
One example is 17-year-old Sawako Evelyne Maury, whose 22-year-old sister has autism spectrum disorder and global developmental delay. Sawako described the dilemmas faced by youth with neurodivergent siblings. Her French-Japanese parents, who moved to Singapore in 2012, involved their daughters in joint activities early and were open about the sister’s condition [1, 2, 3].
The growth in MINDSibs membership reflects increasing recognition of the siblings' role in caregiving. MINDSibs continues to provide a platform to help siblings navigate their unique challenges.
The programme started in 2010 and by 2021 had about 160 members under 35, reaching over 320 members this year [1, 2, 3].
