AIA Singapore yesterday unveiled findings of the AIA Live Better Study 2024 which revealed that Singapore consumers' overall wellbeing has not shown improvement, scoring 61.5 on the Holistic Wellness Index in 2024 compared to 61.7 in 2023.

Mental wellness was identified amongst Singapore consumers as an important aspect of wellness across the five facets with approximately 1 in 2 (51%) Singapore consumers, indicating that they prioritise mental wellness more now compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Critically, 3 in 5 (59%) believe that they need or might need more resources or support for mental wellness with affordability (66%), accessibility (53%), and presence of workplace initiatives (51%) identified as key resources or support that would be helpful to address mental health challenges in Singapore.

More concerted effort by all parties is needed to support mental wellbeing

Approximately 6 in 10 (58%) Singapore consumers feel that there is a stigma towards mental health, and this is most significant among Gen Zs (73%). There is also a critical need for Singapore consumers to seek help to address mental health challenges, instead of trying to deal with it on their own.

While approximately 2 in 5 (37%) Singapore consumers with mental health challenges feel that they can cope on their own, 2 in 5 (42%) cite high costs to be a main barrier stopping them from seeking professional help, and 3 in 10 (32%) think that their mental health does not require professional support.

Changing consumer perception to overcome the stigma Singapore consumers have towards me...