Clin Assoc Prof Helen Chen Yu

A/Prof Helen Chen is Senior Consultant Psychiatrist in Department of Psychological Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital and Clinical Associate Professor, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School. She is also the Programme Director of the Postnatal Depression Intervention Programme, a MOH-funded project that aims to screen for Postnatal Depression amongst a cohort of recently delivered women for the purpose of early intervention. She completed her training in the area of perinatal psychiatry and women’s mental health in UK at the Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, and has many years of clinical experience working with women suffering from mental health difficulties related to childbearing. Her research, publication and teaching experience has been particular related to emotional and psychological health issues in women, particularly in the context of motherhood, as well as empowering women to cope well with life challenges. Her experiences have humbled her, and made her respectful of the courage and perseverance of the spirit of her patients.

• Grad Dip Psychotherapy 2002
• MMed Psychiatry 1998
• MBBS National University of Singapore 1993

• Head, Department of Psychological Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 2012 - 2023
• Head, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Mental Wellness Service, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 2006 – 2012
• Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Department of Psychological Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 2006 - Present
• Member, MOH Joint Commission of Specialty Training Residency Advisory Council (Psychiatry)
• Member, Psychiatry Exit Exam Committee

• SingHealth Health Quality Star Award – 2012, Singapore
• SingHealth GCEO Outstanding Clinician Award – 2011, Singapore
• SingHealth Health Quality Star Award – 2009-2010, Singapore
• SPRING EXSA Star Award – 2009, Singapore
• SPRING EXSA Gold Award – 2008, Singapore
• KKH Service from the Heart Award - FY2008 QTR3, Singapore
• KKH Service from the Heart Award - FY2007 QTR4, Singapore
• Thrice NHG Service Champion Award – for 1st quarter, Jul 2005 to Sep 2005,
• HMDP Fellowship to UK in Perinatal Psychiatry and Women’s Mental Health – 2004, UK

• LOVING (Learning about Our behavior is Valuable for Increasing Nurturing relationships and healthy Growth) (Human Potential Prenatal Early Childhood Grant April 2023-2028)
• Precision Data using Articifial Intelligence for Improving Preterm OutcomeS (PIIPS) study (HP Prenatal Early Childhood Grant(2025-2028)
• Comparison of the role of epidural analgesia versus non-epidural analgesia in postnatal depression and persistent pain development: a randomized controlled trial CODEPAD (Collaborative Outcomes of Depression and Pain Associated with Delivery) (NMRC CSA 2017-2021)
• Evaluation of the Supporting Resilience and Empowering Mums (SURE MUMS) pilot programme 2017
• The Caregiving and Development Project 2015
• S-PRESTO Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes.
• A longitudinal evaluation of prenatal stress on maternal and fetal physiologic adaptations at gestation specific stages and their subsequent obstetric outcomes (SingHealth Foundation 2012-2015)
• Improving The Adverse Outcomes of Pregnancy - Clinical/Translational Research Programme in Perinatal Medicine. NORA: Neonatal and Obstetric Risk Assessment 1 (NMRC 2010-2013)
• Birth Cohort GUSTO study (NMRC TCR 2009 – 2014)
• Sequence variations of genes in the estrogen pathway and perinatal depression (NMRC EDG 2010 - 2013)
• Clinical audit of postnatal depression intervention programme (KKH Research Grant 2008 - ongoing)
• Review of antidepressant treatment usage in women with postnatal depression (Lundbeck A/S 2008-2009)

• Consensus statements on perinatal depression and anxiety in the Asia-Pacific region. Quah PL, Buist A, Chandra PS, Chen H, Chua TE, Hui PW, Shah M, Surjaningrum ER, Muniswaran G, Mettananda S, Boriboonhirunsarn D, Tan KH. Asia J Psychiatry Nov 2025; 113:104720.
• Childhood gut microbiome is linked to internalizing symptoms at school age via the functional connectome. Querdasi FR, Uy JP, Labus JS, Xu J, Karnani N, Tan AP, Broekman BBFP, Gluckman PD, Chong YS, Chen H, Fortier MV, Daniel LM, Yap F, Eriksson JG, Cai S, Chong MF, Toh JY, Godfrey KM, Meaney MJ, Callaghan BL.Nat Commun. 2025 Oct 30;16(1):9359
• Amgydala-hippocampus connectivity and childhood depressive symptoms: subnuclei insights and self-concept roles. Luo LZ, Huang P, Chan SY, Manahan AMA, Chuah J, Ngoh ZM, Chen H, Fortier MV, Meaney M, Tan AP. Translational Psychiatry Aug 2025; 15:293. Doi/10.1039/s41398-025-03524-y.
• Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Risk for Childhood Depression: Role of Executive Functions. Han MX, Nadarajan R, Wang N, Kee MZL, Lim S, Sagar YK, Chow B, Tan AP, Cheon BK, Ang YS, Zhou JH, Chen HY, Chong YS, Gluckman PD, Meaney MJ, Law EC. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025 Aug;64(8):946-958
• Perinatal Mental Health in Singapore – prevalence, knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Quah PL, Poo ZX, Chen HY, Chua TE, Tan LK, Tan KH. Frontiers in Medicine 2025; 12:1623596.
• Maternal history of maltreatment interacts with DNA methylation patterns to predict infant temperament. Parks KC, Buthmann JL, The AL, Chen L, Chen HY, Gotlib IH. Child Abuse & Neglect, Aug 2025. 
• Prevalence and associated factors of somatic symptoms among adolescents in Singapore: a cross-sectional study  Mahirah D, Lim JM, Mary Su-Lynn Chew, Nidhi Peddapalli, Clement Zhong-Hao Ho, Vicknesan Jeyan Marimuttu, Helen Yu Chen, Sharon Cohan Sung, Yi-Ching Lynn Ho1 and Cheryl Bee-Lock Loh https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-025-00582-w
• Early Maternal Parenting Profiles and Subsequent Child Well-Being in an Asian Cohort Claramae Seow,Mioko Sudo, Yena Kyeong, Helen Chen, Michelle Z. L. Kee, Michael J. Meaney, Anne Rifkin-Graboi, Evelyn C. Law, Yap Seng Chong, Henning Tiemeier, Peipei Setoh https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.13123
• Childhood gut microbiome is linked to internalizing symptoms at school age via the functional connectome Francesca R. Querdasi ,Jessica P. Uy , Jennifer S. Labus, Jia Xu, Neerja Karnani,,Ai Peng Tan,Birit B. F. P. Broekman, Peter D. Gluckman, Yap Seng Chong, Helen Chen, Marielle V. Fortier, LourdesMaryDaniel,Fabian Yap, JohanG. Eriksson, Shirong Cai, Mary Foong-Fong Chong, Jia Ying Toh, KeithM. Godfrey , Michael J. Meaney  & Bridget L. Callaghan https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64988-6
• Consensus statements on perinatal depression and anxiety in the Asia-Pacific region Phaik Ling Quah, Anne Buist, Prabha S Chandra, Helen Chen,Tze-Ern Chua, Pui-wah Hui, Milind Shah, Endang Retno Surjaningrum, Ganeshan Muniswaran, Sachith Mettananda, Dittakarn Boriboonhirunsarn, Kok Hian Tan, Asia–Pacific Perinatal Mental Health Guidelines on Depression and Anxiety Committee https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104720
• Maternal History of Maltreatment Interacts with DNA Methylation Patterns to Predict Infant Temperament Kendall C Parks, Jessica L Buthmann, Ai Ling TEH, Li Chen, Helen Y Chen, Ian H Gotlib https://doi.org/10.1016/j,chiabu.2025.107650
• Perinatal Mental Health knowledge, perception Frontiers Medicine Phaik Ling Quah, Zi Xi Poo, Helen Yu Chen, Tze-Ern Chua, Lay Kok Tan and Kok Hian Tan doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1623596
• How does maternal “belief in a dangerous world” affect maternal and child depressive symptoms during times of crisis? Ning Huang, Evelyn Law, Helen Chen, Birit Broekman,Jonathan Huang, Shirong Cai, Ai Peng Tan, Jerry Chan, Chong Yap Seng, Bobby Cheon,Anne Rifkin-Graboi https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2025.100968 
• Perinatal mental health in Singapore - Prevalence, Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Phaik Ling Quah, Zi Xi Poo, Helen Yu Chen, Tze-Ern Chua, Lay Kok Tan and Kok Hian Tan
• Exploring the validity of the ASQ-SE for socio-emotional competency screening of a low-risk Asian cohort at 2 years of age Pratibha Keshav Agarwal *, Huichao Xie , Anu Sathyan Sathyapalan Rema  Ellen Ghim Hoon Tay  Michael J. Meaney , Keith M. Godfrey e Shirong Cai, Helen Yu Chen , Yap Seng Chong h, Victor Samuel Rajadurai , Lourdes Mary Daniel a,j https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2024.105951
• Amygdala-hippocampus connectivity and childhood depressive symptoms: subnuclei insights and self-concept roles Lizhu Luo Pei Huang, Shi Yu Chan, Aisleen Mariz Arellano Manahan, Jasmine Chuah, Zhen Ming Ngoh, Helen Chen, Marielle V. Fortier, Michael J. Meaney and Ai Peng Tan https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03524-y
• Maternal History of Maltreatment Interacts with DNA Methylation Patterns to Predict Infant Temperament Ms. Kendall C. Parks, Jessica L. Buthmann, PhD; Ai Ling Teh, PhD; Li Chen, PhD; Helen Y. Chen, MBBS, MMed; Ian H. Gotlib
• Maternal Support in Postpartum Depressive Disorders: A Qualitative Study of the Mums2Mums Online Support Group Peng Hong Min Shaye, Yong Su Hui Flora, Chia Beverly, Ch’ng Ying Chia, Chen Helen
• Therapeutic Approaches to Perinatal Loss: A Case Report Leonora Yu Xi Chiam, Helen Chen Yu
• Does the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) identify antenatal depression and antenatal anxiety disorders? A validation study in Singapore Ningxiang Zeng, Pamela Hui Yee Goh, Tze-Ern Chua, Rehena Sultana, Chin Wen Tan, Ban Leong Sng, Helen Chen https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.03.149
• Whose sleep matters? Untangling the relationships between maternal sleep, child sleep, and maternal depressive symptoms in the first two years of life  Bethany Kotlar · Alex Kotlar · Ekaterina Sadikova · Monik Jimenez · Aisha Yousafzai · Mioko Sudo ·Yena Kyeong · Peipei Setoh · Gwendolyn Ngoh · Anne Rifkin‑Graboi · Michael J. Meaney · Helen Chen· Birit F. P. Brockman · Daniel Y. T. Goh· Fabian Yap · Yung Seng Lee · Shirong Ca· Henning Tiemeier  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-025-02689-7
• A Validation of the EPDS Cut-offs and Its Sociodemographic Correlates in a Multi-Ethnic Urban Setting of Postpartum Women Haikel A. Lim, Tze-Ern Chua, Rachel Goon, Ying-Chia Ch’ng, Helen Chen
• Toddler disorganized attachment in relation to cortical thickness and socioemotional problems in late childhood Bhavya Arya, Madeline Patrick, Huang Pei, Evelyn Law, Birit Broekman,Helen Chen, Madeline Chan Hiu Gwan, Fabian Yap, Lee Yung Seng, Kok Hian Tan, Chong Yap-Seng, Anqi Qiu, Marielle Valerie Fortier, Peter Gluckman, Michael Meaney, Ai Peng Tan & Anne Rifkin-Graboi  https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2024.2404591
• Physician perceptions of medically unexplained symptoms in adolescent patients presenting to the emergency department Gillian Hendriks, Chunzhen Tan, Marimuttu Jeyan Vicknesan  Helen Yu Chen, Sharon Cohan Sung, Angelina Su Yin Ang https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2024.104078
• Grandparents and domestic helpers' childcare support: Implications for well-being in Asian families  Mioko Sudo,Petrina Hui Xian Low, Yena Kyeong, Michael J. Meaney, Michelle Z. L. Kee, Helen Chen, Birit F. P. Broekman, Ranjani Nadarajan, Anne Rifkin-Graboi, Henning Tiemeier, Peipei Setoh  http://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.13010
• Investigating Factors Associated with the Development of Postnatal Depression After Cesarean Delivery: A Validation Cohort Study  Daryl Jian An Tan, Rehena Sultana, Sheryl Yu Xuan Chow, Chin Wen Tan, Hon Sen Tan, Helen Yu Chen, Tze-Ern Chua ,Ban Leong Sng  https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S448853
• The association between epidural labour analgesia and postpartum depression: a randomised controlled trial H. S. Tan,C. W. Tan R. Sultana, H. Y. Chen, T. Chua, N. Rahman, M. Gandhi, A. T. H. Sia and B. L. Sng  doi:10.1111/anae.16178
• Hofbauer cell function in the term placenta associates with adult cardiovascular and depressive outcomes Eamon Fitzgerald,Mojun Shen, Hannah Ee Juen Yong, Zihan Wang, Irina Pokhvisneva, Sachin Patel, Nicholas O’Toole, Shiao-Yng Chan, Yap Seng Chong, Helen Chen, Peter D. Gluckman, Jerry Chan, Patrick Kia Ming Lee & Michael J. Meaney https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42300-8
• Perinatal Trajectories of Maternal Depressive Symptoms in Prospective, Community-Based Cohorts across Three Continents Michelle Z. L. Kee ; Andrea Cremaschi; Maria De Iorio; Helen Chen, Tina Montreuil, Tuong Vi Nguyen,Sylvana M. Côté, Kieran J. O’Donnell, Gerald F. Giesbrecht, Nicole Letourneau, Shiao Yng Chan, Michael J. Meaney doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.39942
• The Postnatal Depression Intervention Program “PNDIP”: A 10-year review Lin Feng Hong, Tze-Ern Chua, Ying Chia Ch’ng, Kate Chui, Helen Yu Chen doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.39942
• Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Prevalence of Postnatal Depression in Singapore  Kaddie K Chen, Sandy Julianty Umboh, Tze-Ern Chua, Min S Chua, Chow M Yik, Ngar Y Poon, Ying Chia Ch’ng, and Helen Chen https://doi.org/10.1177/20101058231207691
• Consensus statement on Singapore Perinatal Mental Health Guidelines on Depression and Anxiety  Helen Chen, Tze-Ern Chua, Theresa Mei Ying Lee,Elizabeth Junpei Siak, Lin Feng Hong, Ying Chia Ch’ng, Yasmin Hassan, Cornelia Yin-Ing Chee, Yee Ming Mok, Say How Ong, Victor Samuel Rajadura, Tiong Ghee Teoh, Vasuki Utravathy, Kok Hian Tan, Lay Kok Tan https://doi.org/10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2023148
• Allostatic load in children: The cost of empathic concern  Desiree Y. Phua, Helen Chen, Fabian Yap, Yap Seng Chong, Peter D. Gluckman, Birit F. P. Broekman , Johan G. Eriksson, and Michael J. Meaney. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2217769120
• Primary health level screening for postpartum depression during well-child visits: Prevalence, associated risk factors, and breastfeeding  Cherie Sze Min Sim, Helen Chen, Shu-Ling Chong, Olivia Jiawen Xia, Elaine Chew, Xiaoxuan Guo, Lai Peng Ng, Ying Chia Ch’ng, Julia Lay Hoon Ong, Joanna Tan, David Chee Chin Ng, Ngiap Chuan Tan, Yoke Hwee Chan   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103701
• Is Maternal Mental Well-Being in Pregnancy Associated With Breastmilk Composition? Pang, W. W., Chan, Y. H., Geddes, D., Lai, C. T., Chen, H., Broekman, B., Chua, M, C. Tan, K, H.,. . Zhang, C.  doi:10.1016/j.cdnut.2023.101036
• Physical discipline as a normative childhood experience in Singapore. Sudo M, Won YQ, Chau WWY, Meaney MJ, Kee MZL, Chen H, Eriksson JG, Yap F, Rifkin-Graboi A, Tiemeier H, Setoh P. doi: 10.1186/s13034-023-00632-9.
• Maternal distress and parenting during COVID-19: differential effects related to pre-pandemic distress? Ann Low, Yue Yu, Lit Wee Sim, Jean Francois Bureau, Ngiap Chuan Tan, Helen Chen, Yang Yang, Bobby Cheon, Kerry Lee, Marian Bakermans-Kranenburg, Stella Tsotsi & Anne Rifkin-Graboi  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04867-w
• Validating the Children's Depression Inventory-2: Results from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study. Anant, N., Kaur, D., Nadarajan, R., Phua, D. Y., Chong, Y. S., Gluckman, P. D., Yap, F., Chen, H., Broekman,  B., Meaney, M. J., & Ang, Y. S. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286197
• Preconception sleep quality moderates the association between preconception hair cortisol levels and mental health in pregnant women. Abdul Jafar NK, Tham EKH, Eng DZH, Yeo S, Rifkin-Graboi A, Gooley JJ, Loy SL, Eriksson JG, Chong YS, Tan KH, Chan JKY, Chen H, Shek LP, Gluckman PD, Yap F, Meaney MJ, Broekman BFP, Kee MZL, Cai S.  doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.129.
• Functional connectivity analysis of childhood depressive symptoms Huang, P., Chan, S. Y., Ngoh, Z. M., Nadarajan, R., Chong, Y. S., Gluckman, P. D., Chen, H., Fortier, M. V., Tan, A. P., & Meaney, M. J.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103395
• Microglial function moderates the relation between depression risk factors and depression outcomes across the life course in females" Fitzgerald, E., Pokhvisneva, I., Patel, S., Chan, S. Y., Tan, A. P., Chen, H., Silveira, P. P., & Meaney, M. J. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.02.18.23286124
• Joint modelling of mental health markers through pregnancy: a Bayesian semi-parametric approach" -Feng, S. V., van den Boom, W., De Iorio, M., Thng, G. J., Chan, J. K. Y., Chen, H. Y., Tan, K. H.,. . . Kee,  M. Z. L. Journal of Applied Statistics. doi:10.1080/02664763.2022.2154329