Welcome Address by Ms Charis Cheng at WELLxOct26

20 Oct 2026 Speeches

Welcome Address by Ms Charis Cheng, Chairperson, WSH Council (Mental Well-being) Committee  
& Acting Chief Human Capital Officer, SATS 
WELLxOct26 | Tuesday, 20 October 2026, 9.05am  
Lifelong Learning Institute 
 

Mr Adrian Toh, President, Singapore Psychological Society, 

Mr Lee Seng Teck, Director, School of Health Sciences, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, 

Tripartite colleagues from SNEF and NTUC, 

Members of the Well-being Champions Network, Ladies and gentlemen, 

Good morning. 
 

  Introduction  

1. Thank you for joining us at WELLxOct26. It is really good and heartening to see a big group here, so many people committed to supporting mental well-being at work. 
   
   
2. Today’s theme, “What Makes Well-being Strategies Work”, is very appropriate. It invites us to consider how employees experience support in their day-to-day work. That experience is shaped by how work is designed and managed, the relationships people build, and whether employees feel able to raise concerns or ask for help. Mental well-being is very much part of a safe and healthy workplace, and today’s conversations can certainly help us explore how support can take shape in different settings. 
   
   
3. While many organisations, including many of us sitting here, have introduced well-being initiatives, effective strategies often share common elements: committed leadership, a supportive culture, trusted champions and peer supporters, and a willingness to listen and improve. Every organisation’s journey is different, but our goal is the same: to create workplaces where people feel safe, supported and valued. This can be achieved through a culture of trust, care and belonging, supported by programmes and initiatives that meet people’s needs. 
    
4. This is especially important as employees navigate increasing demands, rapid change and uncertainty. Supporting their mental well-being is not only the right thing to do, but also essential to building resilient, high-performing organisations. 
    
   
   Safety, Health and Mental Well-being Go Hand in Hand  
   
   
5. Our efforts to strengthen mental well-being build on Singapore’s progress in workplace safety and health, achieved through the collective efforts of employers, workers, unions and industry partners. People are at the heart of everything we do and of this journey, and mental well-being is an essential part of keeping them safe and healthy. 
   
   
6. Employees who are mentally well are better able to stay focused, make sound decisions and support their colleagues. When they feel psychologically safe, they are more willing to raise safety concerns, discuss workload issues and seek support for themselves or for others who may need help. This benefits individual well-being and organisational performance as a whole. 
    
   
   Everyone Has a Role to Play 
   
   
7. To realise these benefits, well-being strategies cannot rely just on programmes, policies or interventions alone. They depend on the people who put them into practice. 
   
   
8. Leaders set the direction and demonstrate commitment. Managers shape the day-to-day employee experience. Champions and peer supporters encourage open conversations and provide support. Together, we create the conditions for well-being strategies to take root and flourish.  
   
   
9. Often, it is the simple, consistent actions that make the biggest difference: listening with empathy, checking in on one another, encouraging respectful conversations, and providing safe avenues for feedback. These everyday actions build trust over time. 
   
   
   Learning and Growing Together  
   
   
10. Learning from one another can help us strengthen these everyday efforts. That is what WELLx is about.  
    
    
11. Throughout today, you will hear from leaders, champions, peer supporters and partners about their experiences in supporting workplace mental well-being. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, their experiences can offer useful insights that others can apply to their own workplaces.  
    
    
12. Later today, we will be joined by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Finance and Manpower Mr Shawn Huang, who will share the next steps in our national effort to strengthen workplace mental well-being, and witness the signing of new partnerships to strengthen support for champions, peer supporters and workplaces.  
    
    
13. You will also have opportunities to connect with fellow members of the Well-being Champions Network and with organisations championing workplace mental well-being. I encourage you to exchange ideas, share your experiences, learn from one another, and make the most of today for ourselves here.  
    
    
14. I hope that the insights and connections gained today will help you to also identify practical steps to strengthen mental well-being in your own organisations. 
     
    
    Conclusion  
    
    
15. This brings us back to our theme, “What Makes Well-being Strategies Work”. The answer ultimately comes down to people.  
    
    
16. Well-being strategies work when leaders demonstrate commitment, champions and peer supporters are empowered to act, and colleagues look out for one another. Building mentally healthy workplaces calls for a collective effort to foster a culture of trust, respect and genuine care for one another.  
    
    
17. As we begin today’s session, let us build on this shared commitment, learn from one another and turn today’s insights into meaningful action at our workplaces. 
    
    
18. And again, I encourage you: make the best, make the most of today’s sessions as you’re here today. Thank you, and I wish you a fruitful and inspiring WELLxOct26.