More Peer-to-Peer Mental Support Is Needed at the Workplace

Young NTUC, the Labour Movement’s youth wing, has trained and certified 675 people who can render peer-to-peer support on mental well-being and psychological first aid.

These peer supporters come from over 70 companies across various industries. Most are from the food services, energy and chemical, education and construction industries. Fifty-one per cent are 40 and above, 41 per cent are between ages of 30 and 39, and 8 per cent are between ages 20 and 29.

Young NTUC gave the update on 10 October 2022, a year since it launched the Workforce Skills Qualifications Certified Training in Peer-to-Peer Mental Well-being Support @ Work.

Young NTUC plans to train up to 1,000 peer supporters by March 2023.

NTUC LearningHub co-developed the training in partnership with Singapore Anglican Community Services.

World Mental Health Day

In conjunction with World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2022, Young NTUC held a focus group discussion on mental well-being initiatives at the workplace.

More than 30 employers and young working adults attended the discussion at Starbucks Jewel Changi Airport.

Young NTUC also shared insights from peer supporters during the focus group discussion. The insights included their experiences, feedback and challenges faced when providing mental well-being support.

Feedback and Challenges

The peer supporters shared that conversations around mental well-being remain taboo in the workplace.

They also shared that it would be beneficial to have more buy-in from the management to incorporate mental well-being practices at the workplace.

Peer supporters also said that they want more recognition, training, and practice to be better at lending support to their peers. Doing so will allow them to better manage in their role.

Young NTUC Executive Secretary Wendy Tan said the focus group provided information on how the Labour Movement would provide companies with support and resources to establish better mental well-being support.

NTUC also said more discussions with employers are needed to determine their considerations and challenges when implementing mental well-being practices.

Ms Tan added: “We hope to equip more employees, human resource and line managers with basic psychological first aid and peer support skills.”

Helping Youth Prepare for the Workforce

Young NTUC, during the focus group discussion, also gathered feedback on how youth can get better support as they step into the workforce.

The feedback gathered will help towards NTUC Youth Taskforce’s ongoing survey, which has garnered more than 2,000 respondents to date.

The survey has found that the top four areas they worry most about are work-life balance, being able to adapt at work, deciding on their career path without being limited by others’ expectations, and being happy in an organisation’s work environment or culture.

One in ten of the respondents do not feel sufficiently prepared to step into the workforce.

NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Desmond Choo said: “In response to the recommendations youth have shared, we are looking into developing specific initiatives to address the unique needs of these youth, who are transitioning to their next stage of life.”

“Mental well-being is not the only area of support we are looking into, but we will also look at addressing their career planning concerns and financial plans. We hope the youth will continue to share more of what they want out of their work and life as our engagements continue.”

Young NTUC plans to engage more than 1,000 youth in the coming months through upcoming focus group discussions at ITE colleges, polytechnics and universities.

The focus group discussion was part of the #EveryWorkerMatters Conversations, a larger-scale series of engagements by the Labour Movement to engage all workers across various life stages.

To participate in the #EveryWorkerMatters Conversations, visit conversations.ntuc.sg.