Has progress been made in tackling stigma around mental health in Asia?
Summary: Have we truly broken down the stigma around mental health in Asia, or are there still barriers beneath the surface? Using case studies from Singapore, let's dive into the progress that has been made, the challenges that remain, and what’s next for mental health in the region.
Mental health has become a prominent topic of conversation in recent years, owing to the longstanding efforts of countless advocates pushing for greater awareness, acceptance, and support. How far have we actually come? And what progress has been made?
The Rise of Mental Health Conversations
Historically, mental health struggles were often swept under the rug in many Asian cultures, shrouded in shame and misunderstanding. However, the COVID-19 pandemic acted as an unexpected catalyst. Increased isolation, fear, and uncertainty forced mental health into the spotlight, with more people experiencing mental health challenges.
According to a 2022 survey by Channel News Asia, “45% of people in 6 Asian countries and territories indicated that their mental health has deteriorated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Based on an Institute of Mental Health (IMH) study conducted during the pandemic, “8.7% of Singaporeans met the criteria for clinical depression, while 9.4% met the criteria for anxiety, and 9.3% met the criteria for mild to severe stress.”
Communities in Asia could no longer ignore the elephant in the room. As a result, the conversation on mental health opened up in both public and private spaces.
At a population-wide level, governments ramped up initiatives designed to destigmatize mental illness.
Among several mental health initiatives such as Beyond the Label and Mindline in Singapore, digital campaigns such as Brave The New in 2020 and Hi #JustCheckingIn in 2021 showed positive results. These campaigns made mental health resources more accessible, and raised awareness about mental health challenges and forms of support, while also encouraging help-seeking behaviour.
Post-campaign surveys showed that “exposure to the ‘Brave the New’ campaign was associated with increased coping ability, normalisation of stress, and increased willingness to seek help from others, with 90% of those who saw the campaign were willing to seek help from others, compared to 76% among those who did not.”
Meanwhile, 60% of those who saw the ‘Hi #JustCheckingIn’ campaign “agreed that the campaign motivated them to actively find more information about ways to provide emotional support, and to reach out and provide emotional support to their loved ones.”
Meanwhile, community organisations stepped up to provide resources and outlets to seek informal community care.
At Calm Collective, we started our Calm Circles peer support program amidst the pandemic in 2021, providing a safe space for the community to engage in open, meaningful conversations to support mental well-being. By holding regular online well-being circles, we’ve empowered over 1,000+ beneficiaries to support their mental well-being, and trained over 150+ members of the community with key skills to provide emotional support to others.
The results of the increased conversation around mental health are evident:
A 2023 report by Ipsos found that “78% of Singaporeans say mental health is equally as important as physical health.”
According to a 2022 survey by Channel News Asia, “36% of people across 6 Asian countries and territories felt that mental health awareness is improving while 32% felt that it is increasing but still falls short.”
A 2022 National Population Health survey by the Ministry of Health (MOH) revealed that “more Singaporeans, on the whole, were willing to seek help informally from their social circle (79.7%) than from healthcare professionals (56.6%) if they were constantly unable to cope with stress.”
Barriers to Taking Action for Mental Health
While communities in Asia have made significant strides in acknowledging the mental health conversation, elements of the stigma surrounding mental health still remain, creating significant barriers to taking action for mental health.
Cultural factors like the fear of judgement and "losing face" still deter many from seeking help.
In a 2023 report by Aon, they found that “49% of APAC workers worry that friends or family would treat them differently if they had a mental health issue.”
According to a 2022 survey by Channel News Asia, “Singaporeans are significantly more concerned (66%) about the stigma around mental health, relative to other countries and territories.”
Accessibility is another hurdle – many lack knowledge of the types of mental health support that are publicly available.
In a 2023 report by Aon, they found that “32% of APAC workers do not know what type of care they would need or where to go for help.”
In the workplace, concerns about career repercussions and the persistent pressure to perform create a culture of silence.
In a 2023 report by Aon, they found that “54% of APAC workers believe their career options would be limited if their employer knew they had a mental health issue.”
According to a 2022 survey by the Ministry of Manpower in Singapore, “among job seekers, 5% said they faced discrimination due to their mental health condition, a marked increase from 2.9% per cent the year before.”
Without addressing these barriers through normalising the act of taking action for mental health, it will remain difficult for those who are struggling to get the help they need.
The Next Step: Normalising Mental Health
To truly tackle the stigma surrounding mental health, Asian societies must transition from acknowledging the mental health conversation to normalising taking actions for mental health. This involves:
Reframing the narrative: Promoting mental health action as a sign of strength and self-care as essential.
Promoting resources: Highlighting accessible options like hotlines, online therapy, and community support groups.
Workplace solutions: Advocating for employee well-being and training managers to support employees.
Community involvement: Building grassroots efforts to destigmatise seeking help and offer informal community care.
Conclusion
Asian societies, including Singapore, have undoubtedly made significant progress in the mental health conversation, but the journey is far from over. It's time to normalise action – seeking help, prioritising self-care, and advocating for accessible resources. By doing so, we can build a future where mental well-being is not just acknowledged, but actively supported and prioritised.
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References:
https://www.moh.gov.sg/resources-statistics/reports/covid-19-mental-wellness-taskforce-report
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/interactives/mental-health-survey-2965916
https://stats.mom.gov.sg/Pages/Fair-Employment-Practices-2022.aspx