Tackling the Invisible Threats of Stress and Mental Illness

You may be shocked to learn that 74% of adults in Hong Kong are experiencing a deterioration in their health compared to 5 years ago, according to AIA's Healthy Living Index. Hong Kong ranked last (15th) among markets in the Asia Pacific Region.

The recent World Day for Safety and Health at Work focuses on protecting the health and well-being of workers, provided an opportunity to put the spotlight on two taboo and often invisible subjects in Asia: stress and mental illness.

Employees today face pressure to meet the demands of modern working life. Increased competition, higher expectations on performance and longer working hours are contributing to the workplace becoming an ever more stressful environment with the potential knock-on effect of poor employee health, lack of work-life balance, and strained family relations.

For some, this can lead to poor mental health, or even mental illness, which includes depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. This is the second largest contributor to years lost due to disability (YLDs) in the Asia-Pacific region, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit. Indeed, one person in every four to five in Hong Kong has been affected by a mood or mental disorder at some stage of his/her life. As the prevalence of depression increases, the World Health Organisation has warned that it might be the second greatest cause of global mortality.

So what can be done?

In recent years, many developed countries have been allocating resources to mental health and the promotion of wellbeing. We believe that it is now time for the corporate sector to step up too. Responsible businesses understand that the wellbeing of their employees is critical and take proactive steps to create a supportive workplace culture and environment that enables all to deliver their best work. Read on to find out what other companies are doing and what more your company could do.