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Employees working in real estate activities had the lowest mental health score (54.7) in April 2023, followed by individuals working in financial and insurance activities (57.6), and public administration and defence (58.0).
Over one-third of workers surveyed in Singapore are at a high mental health risk.
Based on TELUS Health's overall Mental Health Index (MHI) for April 2023, released on Wednesday (15 August 2023), the mental health of workers in Singapore remains nearly unchanged from the previous period, at 61.5. According to the Index, this roughly translates to 37% having a high mental health risk. Of the remaining, 47% have a moderate mental health risk, and 17% have a low mental health risk.
On a more positive note, there has been a slight reduction in high-risk workers (-2%) and a modest improvement in low-risk workers (+3%) one year since the launch of the index in April 2022.
Specifically, 24% of people in the high-risk group reported a mental health condition or issue, 5% in the moderate-risk group reported a mental health condition or issue, and 2% in the low-risk group reported a mental health condition or issue.
For the third consecutive period, the lowest Mental Health Index sub-score is for the risk measure of work productivity (52.1), which looks at the impact of mental health on work productivity and goals. This is then followed by:
- anxiety (54.1),
- isolation (55.1),
- depression (56.2),
- optimism (64.3), and
- general psychological health (70.4).
Financial risk, which looks at the level of an individual’s emergency savings (71.6) continues to be the most favourable mental health measure in Singapore.
For a quarterly comparison, work productivity, optimism, financial risk, and general psychological health scores declined from January 2023. Despite a 0.8-point decline from January 2023, financial risk continues to be the strongest of all sub-scores.
On the other hand, the isolation score has the greatest improvement from the prior period, at a growth of 1.1 points.
Next, the study also broke down findings by employment status. Overall, 3% of respondents were unemployed and 8% reported reduced hours or reduced salary. Individuals reporting reduced salary compared to the prior month have the lowest mental health score (43.2), followed by individuals working fewer hours (59.3), individuals not currently employed (61.6), and individuals with no change to salary or hours (62.2).
The study further revealed:
- Managers have a higher mental health score (62.0) than non-managers (60.8).
- On the other hand, labourers have a lower mental health score (58.8) than service (62.0) and office workers (61.7).
- Respondents working for organisations with more than 10,000 employees have the highest mental health score (63.3), while those working for companies with 101-500 employees have the lowest mental health score (59.4).
By region within Singapore, the mental health scores across all regions in Singapore overall continue to be significantly strained. In April 2023, the mental health scores in the east, north, and north-east regions have declined while scores in the central and west regions have improved.
Still, despite a sharp 1.8-point decline, the mental health score in the east region remains strongest (63.2). Conversely, the lowest mental health score (60.4) is among respondents in the north-east region of Singapore following a 0.2-point decline.
Lastly, breaking it down by industry, employees working in real estate activities had the lowest mental health score (54.7) in April 2023, followed by individuals working in financial and insurance activities (57.6), and public administration and defence (58.0).
Meanwhile, those employed in transportation and storage (67.1), manufacturing (64.6), and health & social services (63.3) have the highest mental health scores this month.
The impact of physical activity on mental health
Interestingly, when asked whether physical activity has a positive effect on their mental health, four in five (79%) workers in Singapore believe that physical activity has a positive effect on their mental health; this group has the highest mental health score (63.7), nearly 11 points higher than workers who are neutral (53.0) and two points above the national average (61.5). Similarly, nearly nine in ten workers (86%) believe that physical activity and good mental health are linked; this group has the highest mental health score (63.0), nine or more points higher than workers who are neutral or disagree, and more than one point higher than the national average (61.5).
To understand what could help improve the physical health of workers, 43% said better sleep would be most helpful in managing their physical health, 19% cited access to a convenient or safe place to exercise, and 18% noted access to affordable nutritious foods as the most helpful in managing their physical health.
Unfortunately, nearly one in six (15%) workers reported a physical health issue that interferes with work; this group has a mental health score (47.9) 16 points lower than workers not reporting a physical health issue that interferes with work (63.9) and 13 points lower than the national average (61.5).
Of those who reported a physical health issue, 20% shared that their employer is unaware of their physical health issue; the mental health score of this group (42.3) is more than 19 points lower than the national average (61.5), and 10 points lower than workers whose employers are aware of their physical health issue.
Meanwhile, workers in Singapore whose employers are aware of their physical health issue that interferes with work were asked whether their employer is helpful in managing work — one in 14 (7%) said their employer has not been helpful in managing work given the challenges with their physical health issue; the mental health score of this group (54.3) is more than seven points below the national average (61.5) and one point lower than workers whose employers are always helpful (55.2).
Overall, 6% of workers surveyed are dissatisfied with the level of healthcare available; the mental health of this group is lowest (39.9), 25 points lower than workers who are satisfied (65.3) and nearly 22 points lower than the national average (61.5).
While this was so, seven in ten (71 per cent) said they are satisfied with the level of healthcare available; this group has the highest mental health score (65.3), four points higher than the national average (61.5).
Lead image / TELUS Mental Health Index
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