SINGAPORE : The Health Promotion Board (HPB) wants to encourage people to spend more time with their families and friends. It said having a strong social support network enhances mental well-being.

HPB's senior deputy director of the Mental Health Education, Adult and Elderly Health Division, Dr Koh Yang Huang, said: "Individuals who have positive relationships with others are more likely to enjoy mental well-being. However, our fast-paced society leaves us little time to nurture and develop relationships."

In conjunction with World Mental Health Day on October 10, HPB has lined up a series of events.

To promote mental health at work, the board is encouraging companies and organisations to hold "Treasure Your Mind Day" in their workplaces on any day in October.

On this day, participating organisations will encourage their employees to do simple feel good actions such as writing affirmative notes to each other or paying good deeds forward.

So far, 25 local and multinational companies have already said they will be participating. These include ST Electronics, Certis Cisco, the National Library Board and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore. - CNA /ls