10 October 2025, Singapore  – The Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS), in conjunction with World Mental Health Day, launched its inaugural RAS Wellness Day at the Orchid Country Club’s Royal Palm Restaurant this afternoon. The event, held under the banner of RAS KopiTalks Session – Building a RAS-ilient Industry officially unveiled a dedicated mental wellness initiative tailored for Singapore’s F&B owners and the industry, marking the first collaborative movement to unite the F&B industry and mental health partners.

Guest of Honour, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Co-Chairperson of the PAP Mental Health Group (MHG), reiterated the community’s vital role in advancing mental health and well-being in Singapore. He said, “No one should have to face mental health challenges alone. We must ensure that support is accessible and calibrated to the unique needs of individuals. This includes our F&B owners and teams, who grapple with a highly demanding and stressful environment. We are confident that this initiative will spur more industry leaders across all sectors to take decisive action for mental health, to answer the national call for better workplace mental health and well-being. Together as a community, we can secure lasting, positive change for mental wellness across Singapore.”

RAS Wellness Day: A Timely Initiative for the F&B Sector

The launch comes at a critical time for Singapore’s F&B industry, which continues to grapple with rising operational costs, persistent manpower shortages, and ever-increasing customer expectations.

This flagship initiative by RAS is designed to address the unique stressors faced by F&B owners and management, including financial pressures, manpower challenges, and leadership isolation. By providing structured programmes, peer support, and digital wellness tools, RAS aims to normalise conversations on mental wellness and position itself as a champion for leadership wellbeing.

6-Month Roadmap of Initiatives

At the launch, RAS unveiled a 6-month roadmap of initiatives, including:

1.     Workshops on mental wellness strategies and interventions

2.     Peer support structures to provide safe spaces and shared learning

3.     Digital wellness tools for accessible, ongoing support

Objectives of RAS Wellness Day

1.   Address unique stressors faced by F&B owners and operators.

2.     Provide structured programmes, toolkits, and resources that are practical, accessible, and relevant to SME business leaders.

3.     Normalise conversations on mental wellness within the F&B sector, reducing stigma and encouraging proactive support.

Building a Sustainable Wellness Ecosystem

The RAS Wellness Day aims to foster peer-to-peer support and collaborative partnerships. The programme creates opportunities for mutual support among F&B owner-operators through initiatives like Makan Buddies and KopiTalks knowledge-sharing sessions.

This initiative is made possible by RAS’ partnership with the PAP Mental Health Group (MHG) and its community workgroups Silver Ribbon (Singapore) and Total Wellness Initiative Singapore (TWIS), to anchor a holistic wellness agenda. The partners will deliver talks, training sessions, mindfulness sessions, and frameworks for peer support groups, contextualised to the F&B sector.

With contributions from RAS leaders, including Mr Edward Chia, Management Committee Member of RAS, the initiative introduces two cornerstone resources: the Bon Appétit, Bon Esprit – Recipes for Wellness in F&B toolkit developed by Silver Ribbon (Singapore), and the Makan Buddies – Self-Guided Monthly Conversation Guides, a peer support programme by the Total Wellness Initiative Singapore (TWIS). Together, these resources equip F&B owners and operators with practical strategies, lived experiences, and a six-month framework of shared conversations and learnings, designed to safeguard mental wellbeing, strengthen resilience, and foster a wellness-first culture across the industry.

According to Mr Andrew Chan, Vice President, Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS), “The launch of RAS Wellness Day is made possible through the strong collaboration between RAS and our valued partners – the PAP Mental Health Group (MHG), Silver Ribbon Singapore (SRS) and Total Wellness Initiative Singapore (TWIS). This collective effort underscores our shared commitment to championing mental wellness leadership in the F&B industry. We hope this initiative will bring practical resources, peer support structures, and fresh perspectives to our stakeholders, helping them navigate the unique pressures of the sector with greater resilience.” He added, “At the same time, it allows RAS and our partners to learn from one another, exchange best practices, and build a sustainable ecosystem of care that can uplift not only business leaders but also their teams across the industry.”

Mr Edward Chia, Management Committee Member of the Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS), said, “I know first-hand the challenges our F&B community faces — long hours, operational pressures, and the responsibility of caring for our teams. Through the RAS Wellness Day and our partnerships with Silver Ribbon Singapore (SRS), Total Wellness Initiative Singapore (TWIS), and the PAP Mental Health Group (MHG), we hope to equip business owners and operators with practical tools and a strong support network.” He added, “This initiative is about breaking the silence around mental wellness, fostering open conversations, and building a culture where wellbeing is valued as much as business performance.”

Addressing Mental Health Challenges at the Workplace

The workplace is where most adult Singaporeans spend the majority of their day, making it a critical setting for addressing mental health challenges and promoting mental well-being practices.

According to the Ministry of Manpower¹, Singaporeans work an average of 45 hours or more per week. A Cigna 360 Well-Being Survey conducted in 2019 found that 92% of working Singaporeans reported feeling stressed, 8% higher than the global average. Reports continue to highlight the workplace as a key source of stress.

While more companies are recognising the importance of workplace wellness programmes, only a third of employees indicated the presence of formal wellness initiatives in their organisations. This gap underscores the urgent need for structured support.

Globally, investing in employee mental health not only nurtures healthier workplaces but also reduces costs in the long run. In Singapore, such efforts have been gaining traction – and the food and beverage (F&B) industry is no exception.

Footnote:
¹ Source: Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) – Government Guidelines and Tools on Workplace Support – https://www.aic.sg/caregiving/government-guidelines-and-tools-on-workplace-support/