Survey: Nearly Half of Singapore Employers Hesitate to Hire Individuals with Mental Health Conditions

Article by Lianhe Zaobao SG 
Read the original article here: https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20241027-5253115 
 
Data shows that Singapore is the most proactive country in ASEAN in implementing inclusive hiring policies. While 89% of Singaporean employers have inclusive hiring policies, 45% remain hesitant to hire those with mental health challenges, highlighting the gap between policy implementation and real-world outcomes. 
 
Intellect, a health-tech company focused on mental health, recently released its 2024 ASEAN Workplace Wellness Report, surveying 585 HR professionals across the region. Due to limited samples from Laos, Cambodia, and Brunei, these countries were excluded from the rankings. Survey respondents came from private enterprises, multinational corporations, non-governmental organizations, and educational institutions, with about 10% from Singapore.  

Key Challenges Identified:

• Lack of resources, infrastructure, and understanding around mental health. 

• Employee engagement remains low—only 5% of employees actively participate in mental health programs, far below the ASEAN average of 47%. 

• The Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment discourage asking about mental health during hiring, which may contribute to employer reluctance. 

Industry Insights: 

• According to Theodore Choo, co-founder of Intellect, creating a supportive environment requires more than just providing resources—it demands leadership commitment to meeting both organizational and employee needs. 

• Narita Cheah, co-founder & CEO of Paperspace Asia, noted that SMEs may struggle to support mental health needs due to resource limitations. Many employers believe meaningful support requires significant infrastructure and expertise, which creates barriers to fully embracing inclusive hiring practices. Cheah stressed the importance of prioritising employee mental well-being alongside business goals to build trust and achieve long-term success. 

Increasing Mental Health Training in HR Departments 
 
With growing awareness of mental health, more companies, particularly larger ones, are providing mental health benefits. For example, UOB Group offers multiple mental health workshops throughout the year and provides free counseling services for employees and their families. 
 
UOB Group’s HR Director, Tang Ziqiang, said the bank launched the Better Mind Program in February 2024 in partnership with Intellect. Employees can access the Intellect app to learn skills such as building confidence, resolving conflicts, and responding to criticism, along with mindfulness exercises. The initiative has been well-received by employees. 
 
Additionally, about 20 HR staff members at UOB have completed Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, equipping them to identify symptoms of mental health conditions and offer support. Certified staff can assist colleagues in need by listening, providing guidance, and encouraging them to seek professional help. 

Employee Perspectives

Annie Zhang (a pseudonym), who has worked at a multinational tech company for over five years, shared that her company improved employee benefits after the pandemic, including two extra days of wellness leave. Employees can take this leave without a medical certificate, similar to sick leave.

The company also provides third-party counseling services. Annie said she benefited from these services after experiencing harassment on public transport, which had left her fearful of commuting. “The company’s support has been great, but not all companies offer such benefits,” she noted.