How accessible mental healthcare is redefining Hong Kong’s employee benefit schemes

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AIA Hong Kong’s survey reveals nearly 80% employees experienced burnout over the past month. Noting mental health remains under supported in local employee benefit schemes, AIA’s Amelie Shen highlighted the need to make mental healthcare more accessible, through a discreet and digital platform.

This article is brought to you by AIA Hong Kong Corporate Solutions.

Fast-paced work environments, mounting pressure, and poor work-life balance are taking a growing toll on the physical and mental wellbeing of Hong Kong workers – with many experiencing burnout, anxiety, and even depression.

According to AIA Hong Kong’s inaugural AIA Survey of Hong Kong Workplace Wellbeing*, respondents rated their workplace happiness at an average of just 65 out of 100. Scores were even lower among respondents in more junior roles.

The findings paint a concerning picture. Nearly eight in 10 respondents reported feeling “emotionally exhausted”, “overly tired”, or “significantly demotivated at work” in the past month. More than 10% said they experienced such symptoms for over 10 workdays each month. Almost one in five employees even took sick leave in the past year due to mental or emotional health issues.

What is driving the strain?

“Heavy workload and long working hours”, alongside “poor work-life balance”, were cited as the top drivers of fatigue and depression. Nearly 80% of respondents said they continued handling work messages outside official hours, with half reporting stress over leaving messages unread or unanswered.

Workplace culture is also a key factor. More than half of respondents said they have considered leaving their job due to a lack of cultural fit. Among Gen Z workers (aged 18–24), 20% have already quit for this reason.

Despite clear signs of mental strain, many remain hesitant to seek professional support. Reasons include:

• Among respondents who took sick leave in the past year due to mental health issues, about 70% fear misunderstanding or stigma.
• Nearly half said they were unsure how to access professional support.
• 35% delayed or avoided counselling or therapy due to perceived cost barriers.

Expanding access to support

The demand is clear: nearly 70% of respondents believe psychotherapy or mental health consultations should be included as part of company medical coverage or employee benefits.

To help address these challenges and better support employees’ wellbeing, AIA Hong Kong has partnered with digital healthcare company WhiteCoat to launch MindAid¹, an online mental wellness platform for its designated group insurance members in Hong Kong.

MindAid is the industry-first² platform in Hong Kong to offer unlimited³, free text-based mental wellness support. It is designed to encourage those in need proactively seek timely, appropriate assistance through familiar digital channels.

Key features of MindAid include:

• Unlimited free text-chat mental wellness support with instant booking: Users can select the area of support and book a preferred time slot to text-chat with a psychologist or counsellor⁴, with availability as soon as 90 minutes.
  
• Mood log: Daily emotion logs help identify triggers, and users can share the records during text-chat sessions for more personalised advice from experts.
  
• Self-assessment tools: Built-in internationally recognised DASS 21 questionnaire⁵ for assessing stress, anxiety, and depression levels.
  
• Wellness resources: Access to articles and videos on mental health and mindfulness to build workplace mental resilience.

Taken together, these features aim to bridge the gap between rising employee needs and the level of support currently provided through workplace benefits.

Amelie Shen, Chief Corporate Solutions Officer of AIA Hong Kong and Macau, noted that mental health remains under-supported in employee benefit schemes despite its critical role in workplace wellbeing, performance, and productivity.

“In fast-paced working environments, emotional needs are often overlooked until issues escalate. Even when employees recognise the need for help, not knowing where to turn and concerns about speaking up remain significant barriers,” she said.

“With the launch of MindAid, AIA Corporate Solutions aims to address these challenges through a discreet, digital platform that aligns with modern communication habits. By enabling employees to express their emotions more naturally and to connect with professional support when it matters most, we seek to make mental healthcare more accessible and part of everyday working life.”

MindAid is available to eligible insured members of AIA Hong Kong group insurance plans and their insured dependants aged 18 or above¹. Through the AIA+ mobile app, users can schedule private text-based sessions with qualified psychologists or counsellors⁴.

Shen added that AIA Corporate Solutions’ holistic employee wellness programme ‘WorkWell with AIA’ covers four pillars: physical health, mental health, financial wellness, and social wellbeing, integrating digital tools to embed health support into daily life.

“At AIA Corporate Solutions, we are committed to going beyond traditional group insurance by offering diversified value-added services to employers and employees,” she affirmed.

“We will continue investing in digital health technology to help employees live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives, while empowering employers in building a more resilient and sustainable talent pool.”

* The AIA Survey of Hong Kong Workplace Wellbeing was conducted between 5 and 11 February 2026 among 804 adults aged 18 or above. Results were weighted according to the distribution of Hong Kong’s working population. The study was carried out by independent market research consultancy YouGov.

^Notes:

<sup>1. The Services are provided by the designated independent third-party provider, WhiteCoat Global Holdings Pte. Ltd. (“Service Provider”), and are subject to the terms and conditions as stipulated by the Service Provider. Please read such terms and conditions before using the Services. Subject to the terms and conditions of the relevant policy of AIA's designated group insurance products, the services under MindAid (“Services”) are value-added services and do not form part of the contractual benefit and are non-guaranteed. AIA reserves the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Services or any part thereof, the service provider(s) (including the Service Provider) and any terms and conditions relating thereto, at any time without prior notice at AIA's absolute discretion.
2. This is the insurance industry first unlimited and free text-chat mental wellness support for insured Group Insurance members in Hong Kong based on publicly available information and comparison with major insurance companies in Hong Kong as of 18 May 2026.
3. The text-chat mental wellness support under MindAid will be provided within the designated service hours by the psychologist or the counsellor as designated by the Service Provider subject to availability at the time of support.
4. The text-chat mental wellness support will be arranged with either a psychologist or a counsellor assigned by the service provider of MindAid subject to availability at the time of support. The services under MindAid provide general information for reference only and shall not be considered as a medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If the user has or has had any mental health conditions, or the user is receiving any mental health service, or the user has doubts or enquiries, please seek independent advice from the registered medical practitioners and/or qualified healthcare professionals immediately.
5. The DASS-21 (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales) questionnaire is designed to help you better understand your current mental state. It consists of 21 questions that assess your mental health in three key areas: stress, anxiety and depression. The assessment is not intended to diagnose any conditions and should not be considered as a medical advice, treatment, or recommendation in any kind. The result of the assessment provides general information for reference only.</sup>

Photo & infographic / AIA Hong Kong Corporate Solutions