Studies on Impact of Unmitigated Workplace Mental Health Issues on Local Workforce

38 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether there are any ongoing studies by the Ministry to examine how workplace mental health issues, if left unmitigated, can affect our local workforce; and (b) if so, when will the results of such studies be made public.

Mrs Josephine Teo: MOM is examining the impact of workplace mental health issues on our local workforce by tapping on completed studies by the Institute of Mental Health and National Council of Social Services. We also refer to global studies by the World Health Organization and International Labour Organization.

MOM agrees that mental well-being at the workplace is important. To encourage more companies to put in place measures to support employees' mental well-being, the Total Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) programme initiated by the WSH Council and supported by the Health Promotion Board will assess employees' physical and mental well-being. The Total WSH consultants can also assist employers with stress management workshops and mental well-being talks, to support the mental well-being of their employees.

We are initiating a pilot of iWorkHealth, a web-based psychosocial assessment tool to help employers and their employees to identify workplace stressors. The tool serves to raise awareness of workplace stressors and provide recommendations on areas where employers can work on to improve the mental well-being of their employees. The tool is targeted to be launched later this year.