Singapore lags Southeast Asian peers in workplace mental health backing

In Singapore, only 52% of workers say they are satisfied with their jobs.

More than half of Singaporean employees (56%) say their mental health and wellbeing are not well supported by their employers — the highest percentage across Southeast Asia, according to a new study by Intellect and Milieu Insight.

Despite growing awareness around mental health at work, the study reveals a stark gap between employee needs and the support they feel they receive. The report, based on a survey of 6,000 employees across six countries, shows that Singapore lags behind its regional peers in both perception and usage of mental health support systems.

In Singapore, only 52% of workers say they are satisfied with their jobs, and the same proportion feel they lack work-life balance — well above the regional average of 42%. The problem is particularly acute amongst those aged 35–44, 45% of whom report struggling to maintain work-life balance. The 25–34 age group follows closely at 44%.

The top causes of work stress cited by Singaporeans are heavy workloads (33%), poor management or leadership (33%), and tight deadlines (31%). Yet when it comes to sources of support, only 6% identified HR as helpful. Instead, direct managers (34%) and company policies (27%) were seen as more significant.

Even though the demand for mental health resources is high, 55% of Singaporean employees reported not using any mental health tools or support over the past year. And whilst mental health benefits are increasingly on the radar in job searches across the region, they remain a low priority in Singapore — only 8% cite it as their top concern when job hunting, the lowest in Southeast Asia.

However, the study also shows that compensation could influence that stance. Amongst Singaporeans willing to accept a job with no mental health benefits, a 20% salary increase is the minimum they would expect.

The findings highlight a growing disconnect between employer offerings and employee expectations, and point to an urgent need for businesses in Singapore to go beyond surface-level perks and build real, internal support systems.