Focusing on the private and non-profit sectors in the group of 670m peoples, some findings have been disclosed for scrutiny

Based on a survey of 585 human resources professionals this year in 10 countries in ASEAN* about workplace well-being, a mental healthcare provider has disclosed some findings with a focus on insights from the private/non-profit sectors.

First, when it came to actively employing individuals with mental health conditions, respondents with no qualms about this came from Vietnam (86%), Thailand (87%) and the Philippines (65%). Some 45% of respondents from Singapore indicated hesitancy, while 26% were  unsure.

Second, 56% of respondents indicated they were prioritizing communication on mental health and neurodiversity inclusion, with a similar percentage also prioritizing training to managers to boost their mental health literacy.

Other findings

Some 65% of respondents in the ASEAN countries polled indicated they had introduced mental health literacy and awareness training for employees, while 60% cited implementing well-being policies and practices aimed at improving employee welfare. It is noted that the scope of mental health resources and their impact can vary significantly across countries. Also:

  • 60% of respondents on average indicated their organizations had inclusive hiring policies, and 68% (on average) cited supporting workplace/physical environment adjustments for such employees. In the Singapore group, this was 89% and 78% respectively — the highest among all respondents in the ASEAN countries polled.
  • 45% of respondents’ indicated organizational hesitations to hire individuals facing mental health challenges despite the above finding, indicating possible gaps in policy implementation and practical outcomes in fostering truly inclusive workplaces.
  • In respondents that cited having access to mental health resources through various Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), mental health personnel like coaches or counsellors were available to 63%, digital mental health support was accessible to 50%, helplines were cited by 38%, and crisis support by 34%.
  • 23% of respondents from Thailand indicated their organizations were offering comprehensive mental health program to employees — the highest among South-east Asia respondents. Among Singapore respondents, 15% indicated the same. These respondents also indicated that, while 93% communicated mental health program to staff, only 5% of employees actively engaged with these services — compared to the regional average of 47% [Vietnam (85%), Thailand (63%), the Philippines (49%)].

According to Theodoric Chew, co-founder and CEO, Intellect, the firm behind the survey: “To foster truly supportive environments, leaders and HR professionals need to go beyond offering resources, they must champion organization-wide efforts in a way that meets the needs of the organization and its employees. Training programs… can empower managers and employees to handle conversations about mental health more sensitively, promoting the hiring of individuals with mental health conditions.”

*based in Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and in eight different types of organizations.

The methodology cites a focus on insights from the private/non-profit sectors. The date(s) of the survey were not specified in the report.