Is mental health still a workplace stigma in Singapore?

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Mental Health Remains a Significant Workplace Stigma in Singapore

A recent survey indicates that mental health continues to be a considerable stigma within Singaporean workplaces. More than half of both employees and employers surveyed expressed concern about this stigma, and a similar proportion of employees reported feeling uncomfortable discussing mental health issues at work. This sentiment is further underscored by the fact that half of the business owners surveyed believe that workplaces should not be responsible for their employees' mental health challenges.
High Stress Levels Amidst Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrably impacted the mental well-being of the workforce in Singapore. Over the past six months, seven in 10 employees reported experiencing some level of stress, with close to one-fifth feeling "very stressed." Employers in Singapore also reported significant stress, with over 60 per cent feeling stressed, and 13 per cent describing their stress as "very stressed." These figures were the highest among the five countries surveyed by Employment Hero.
Employee Discomfort in Discussing Mental Health

Despite the prevalence of stress, open dialogue about mental health in the workplace appears to be lacking. More than half of the surveyed Singaporean employees indicated that they were uncomfortable discussing their mental health at work. This reluctance contributes to the broader concern about stigma, as highlighted by the agreement among over half of employees and employers that such stigma is a prevalent issue.
Employer Perceptions vs. Employee Experience

A notable disconnect exists between the perceptions of business owners and the experiences of employees regarding workplace support for mental health. While half of the business owners surveyed believed their companies are supportive of employees' mental health, only 41 per cent of Singaporean employees agreed with this sentiment. This disparity, with Singapore having the lowest employee agreement on company support among the five surveyed nations, suggests a gap in perceived and actual support systems.

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Is mental health still a workplace stigma in Singapore?

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