Attitudes Have Improved, But Fear of Mental Health Stigma at Work Still Persists

Stuck in a toxic relationship, Amanda suffered a miscarriage while still reeling from the loss of someone dear to her during the Covid-19 pandemic.

- Lee Li Ying

The 30-year-old, who declined to give her real name, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after suffering blow after blow to her personal life in 2022.

She was plagued by frequent, intense flashbacks and panic attacks.

Unable to function, Amanda was forced to take a six-month break from work in the finance sector.

But upon her return, her supervisor chastised her for not being resilient.

"She told me that she had gone through her own mental health struggles before, and she didn't need professional help. The insinuation was that I was weak for needing help and being away for so long," said Amanda.

Dismayed, she submitted feedback to the human resources (HR) department on what her supervisor had said.

Although she had opted not to lodge an official complaint out of fear of ruffling more feathers, the damage had already been done.

"Previously, she would be very active about my development but, after the incident, my manager didn't help me the way she used to," said Amanda.

While overt discrimination, such as firing or not hiring purely because people have a mental health condition, has become less common over the years, experiences like Amanda's still remain, noted mental health patients and advocates.

EVOLVING ATTITUDES

The Covid-19 pandemic has cast a spotlight on mental well-being in the workplace and the need for more support for workers.

In Singapore, the Government and employers have implemented various initiatives to raise awareness of mental health in the workplace.

For example, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), National Trades Union Congress and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) launched the Tripartite Advisory on Mental Health and Well-being at Workplaces in 2023, providing practical guidance for employers.

National well-being campaigns, mental health toolkits, and grants to support workplace well-being were also rolled out.