The ASEAN Workplace Wellbeing 2024 Report by regional mental health care company Intellect revealed that nearly half (45%) of Singaporean employers are hesitant to ‘actively employ’ individuals with mental health conditions.
Theodoric Chew, co-founder & CEO of Intellect,said, “Workplaces play a very important role in dismantling the stigma surrounding mental health - and given that 17% of Singaporeans suffer from poor mental health, it’s imperative that hirers and leaders understand the need to integrate mental health support across the business.”
Despite hesitancy in hiring individuals facing mental health challenges, organisations in Singapore claim to have the highest rate of inclusive hiring policies (89%) and workplace/physical environment adjustments (78%).
Positive shift
The report also showed that Human Resource (HR) professionals prioritise communication on mental health and neurodiversity inclusion (56%) and training managers on mental health literacy (56%).
Moreover, the report found that 65% of organisations in Southeast Asia have introduced mental health literacy and awareness training for employees. In comparison, 60% have implemented wellbeing policies and practices to improve employee welfare.
Championing support
The report revealed that 65% of organisations aim to improve mental health literacy (65%) and have introduced wellbeing policies (60%). However, only 24% of orgaisations in Singapore provide proactive day-to-day mental health support.
“To foster truly supportive environments, leaders and HR professionals need to go beyond offering resources; they must champion organisation-wide efforts in a way that meets the needs of the organisation and its employees,” Chew said.
