Nearly Half of Singaporean Employers Hesitant to Hire Individuals with Mental Health Conditions, ASEAN Report Finds

A new report has revealed that nearly half of Singaporean employers (45%) are hesitant to hire individuals with mental health conditions, with an additional 26% unsure if their companies actively employ such individuals. This hesitance surpasses the regional average, as smaller Southeast Asian markets like Vietnam (86%), Thailand (87%), and the Philippines (65%) lead the region in inclusive hiring practices.

The findings come from the ASEAN Workplace Wellbeing 2024 Report conducted by Intellect, a regional mental health care company, which surveyed 585 HR professionals across Southeast Asia. The report highlights gaps in workplace wellbeing practices, despite efforts to raise mental health awareness.

While many organizations have implemented mental health literacy programs, there remains a critical disconnect between policies and practical outcomes. The report stresses the need for comprehensive training and stronger organizational support to overcome challenges in hiring individuals with mental health conditions.

Progress in Mental Health Management Across ASEAN

ASEAN organizations are increasingly shifting their focus toward mental health change management, moving beyond just offering support services. HR professionals are prioritizing communication around mental health and neurodiversity (56%) and training managers on mental health literacy (56%). This reflects a broader commitment to addressing mental health challenges in the workplace.

However, despite these efforts, gaps in inclusive hiring persist. Across the region, 65% of organizations have introduced mental health training, and 60% have implemented wellbeing policies. Yet in Singapore, where 89% of employers claim to have inclusive hiring policies, nearly half still hesitate to hire individuals with mental health challenges, revealing a gap between policy and practice.

Key Challenges in Singapore

In Singapore, employers are guided by the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices (TGFEP), which discourages asking job applicants to disclose personal information unless directly related to the job. This may explain why many employers don’t actively hire individuals with mental health conditions. Non-disclosure practices are cited as the main reason (67%), but other factors like limited mental health awareness (24%) and negative employee attitudes (10%) also contribute to the hesitance.

Lack of Mental Health Engagement in Singapore

Despite having access to mental health resources through Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP), Singaporean employees show alarmingly low engagement with these services. While 93% of companies communicate mental health programs to staff, only 5% of employees actively use them—a figure far below the regional average of 47%. In comparison, Vietnam (85%), Thailand (63%), and the Philippines (49%) report much higher participation.

Recommendations for Improvement

To bridge the gap in mental health support and hiring practices, the report emphasizes the need for organizations to provide training for recruiters and managers, making mental health resources more accessible and tailored to employees’ needs. By fostering open communication and addressing employee concerns, companies can drive engagement and create more inclusive and supportive workplaces across the ASEAN region.