Case Study: Promoting Mental Wellness at Watsons Malaysia Through the Tongle Mental Health Aider (TMHA™) Workshop

Background on Watsons Malaysia

Watsons is one of Asia’s leading health and beauty retailers and a trusted name in Malaysia for pharmacy services, health solutions, and personal care products. With a strong emphasis on employee wellbeing, Watsons Malaysia has set an example by integrating mental wellness initiatives into its corporate culture. Recognizing the importance of fostering a mentally healthy workplace, the organization has actively participated in programs aimed at enhancing employee awareness and support for mental health issues.

Introduction to the Initiative

In 2024, Watsons Malaysia partnered with Tongle Wellness to implement the Tongle Mental Health Aider (TMHA™) Workshop, a tailored mental health training program. The workshop focused on equipping employees with the skills and knowledge needed to identify, address, and support mental health challenges among employees in the workplace.

The initiative was rolled out in two batches:

  1. Batch 1: Senior management-level employees
  2. Batch 2: Executive-level employees

Workshop Impact and Outcomes

The TMHA™ Workshop has positively impacted a total of 36 employees.

Batch 1 (Senior Management):

  • Participants: 23 employees
  • Passed Assessment and Accredited: 17 employees


Batch 2 (Executives):

  • Participants: 13 employees
  • Passed Assessment and Accredited: 9 employees

This accreditation ensures that the participants are well-prepared to act as Mental Health Aiders within their workplace, promoting a culture of care and support.

Employee and Management Testimonials

Feedback from participants and management highlights the success and meaningfulness of the workshops:

From the People Development Controller:

I personally like it; definitely, it’s good. It’s really meaningful and can also actually help the community around you.

From the Employees:

A lot of useful information was shared, and it’s something that is very important for this day.

It’s definitely a good experience. The workshop has given us more knowledge about mental health issues.

From Batch 2 participants:

It’s a really good place to learn.

It helps, especially with our workplace colleagues, to help them recognize and identify mental health challenges.

Future Collaborations and Goals

Building on the success of the TMHA™ workshops, Watsons Malaysia and Tongle Wellness are exploring additional initiatives to strengthen employee mental wellness:

Employee Assistance Program (EAP):

During recent discussions, Watsons showed interest in leveraging the Listener App, designed to connect employees with mental health resources. Tongle Wellness introduced Watsons to its workplace-specific Employee Assistance Program (EAP) App, which offers:

  • Access to professional counseling sessions with registered and licensed counsellors and chat support with EAP Wellness Associates
  • Daily mental health programs and resources through the EAP portal
    This app aligns with Watsons’ goals of integrating technology into its mental wellness strategy.

Future Workshops:

While plans to conduct TMHA™ sessions for Heads of Departments (HODs) were discussed, Watsons noted that this initiative has been deferred to prioritize other areas in 2024. However, the ongoing collaboration ensures future opportunities for extending mental health training.

Conclusion

Through the TMHA™ Workshop, Watsons Malaysia has demonstrated its commitment to fostering a mentally healthy work environment. By empowering employees to recognize and address mental health issues, the company is setting a benchmark for corporate mental wellness initiatives in Malaysia. As the partnership with Tongle Wellness evolves, Watsons continues to exemplify how organizations can support their workforce while creating a more inclusive and empathetic workplace culture.

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