PUBLISHED October 11th, 2024 01:00 pm | UPDATED October 22nd, 2024 10:18 pm
Are your Monday blues creeping into Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and even Friday too? Whether you realise it or not, we spend almost a third of our waking hours at work. Needless to say, where you work and how you work plays a huge role in shaping your mental health. According to a Gallup poll, Singapore ranks among the top three most stressed countries in Southeast Asia when it comes to work. And with mental health and stress being some of the top healthcare concerns among Singaporeans, it’s high time we look at Mental Health at Work – the theme for World Mental Health Day 2024. We asked, Theodoric Chew, CEO & Co-founder, Intellect – the mental health care company “redefining Mental Healthcare for Global Workforces” – to share insights on workplace mental health in Singapore.
Trends and Challenges
With all the uncertainty, fear, and frustration, the pandemic has certainly pushed mental health into the spotlight. Particularly among younger employees, who prioritise mental health for themselves and their peers.
“82% of Gen Z participants deem mental health days important and half want mental health training.”
Theodoric Chew, CEO & Co-founder of Intellect observes a “ significant shift in the way mental health is perceived in the workplace.” Not only are companies starting to be more aware, but they are increasingly recognizing its impact on productivity and overall organisational health. As they should be, especially when costs associated with absenteeism and presenteeism related to mental health issues are estimated at around S$ 2.3 billion and S$12.8 billion. Intellect’s analysis of data from approximately 50,000 users across ten industries revealed a strong link between personal factors and workplace outcomes. Employees with a strong sense of purpose and in a good state of mental wellbeing are more productive.
“In today’s fast-paced [and] often high-stress work environments, addressing mental health helps prevent burnout, reduce absenteeism, and fosters a more positive and productive work culture.”
-Theodoric Chew, CEO & Co-founder of Intellect
As Theo notes, flexible work arrangements and mental health days becoming more commonplace, and companies are more attuned to the needs of the new generation workforce, with some even starting to offer mental health leaves and in-house therapy sessions, Beyond these reactive policies, companies can look to mental health care companies like Intellect for proactive and sustainable solutions. Combining technology and human support, Intellect offers self-care tools, teleconsultation, and face-to-face counselling or therapy sessions, along with a 24/7 helpline for crises. This integrated approach ensures employees have access to the right support, no matter where they are in their mental health journey.
However, there is still more work to be done, especially when Intellect’s ASEAN Workplace Wellbeing 2024 report found that “half (45%) of Singaporean employers are hesitant to ‘actively employ’ individuals with mental health conditions.”
Mental Health, Whose Responsibility?
It is a fact that when you are happy, you work better, feel better, and do everything better. And heard of the phrase “happy employees, happy customers?” Because an employee’s mental wellbeing directly affects their work performance, forward-thinking companies not only invest in their employees’ mental health, but they work it into their broader strategies by “offering preventative care, resources, and support systems to help employees manage stress before it escalates into a bigger issue,” Theo shares. In other words, it’s not about making employees happy, nor about the weekly in-office yoga sessions, but about building care and support into the organisation’s fundamental systems – where employees have the tools to support themselves and others.
Leaders are key in shaping workplace mental health. People are known to leave toxic environments and bad managers. Not only do managers foster culture and the work environment, but their actions and policies influence how mental health is understood, supported, and managed within their teams.
“Many companies now recognise that mental health isn’t just a personal issue but a crucial aspect of overall organisational health.”
-Theodoric Chew, CEO & Co-founder of Intellect
Tips for Companies to Foster Mental Wellness at Work
So what can companies do? Here are three tips from Theo:
Promote work-life balance:
“A well-rested team is a productive team!” Companies can adopt flexible working hours (read guidelines here), offer remote work options, and discourage overtime to help employees recharge and maintain a healthy balance between their personal and professional lives.
Provide comprehensive access to mental health resources:
Implement Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) which offer employees access to a range of mental health resources such as mental health professionals, counselling, and digital wellness resources. Additionally, companies must actively promote these resources and ensure confidentiality to overcome stigma. Companies can offer peer support programs and even train managers in mental health first-aid programs, which can help to “improve mental health literacy, empower participants to foster a supportive culture in their workplace, and start important conversations about mental wellbeing.”
Ensure policies reflect the intentions of organisations:
Simply put, walk the talk. Ensure company-wide policies reflect their commitment to improving their workplace wellness. “Companies can look into having flexible work arrangements, options for remote work and/or mental health day offs. This allows employees to manage their time and personal and professional lives more effectively, reducing the likelihood of feeling overwhelmed by work demands. This is also very much aligned with the Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP)’s recent guidelines on flexible work arrangement as well as the upcoming mental health guidelines that are being developed by the Workplace Safety and Health Council.” Otherwise, look to WHO for their comprehensive guideline with actionable steps for mental health at work.
Top Image: Courtesy of Deposit Photos