Tuesday, 30 June 2026 – Britain Brunei Business Forum Commemorates World Mental Health Day 2026
Theme : Mental Health in Brunei Darussalam’s Economic Vision
Britain Brunei Business Forum (BBBF) hosted a special dialogue in commemoration of World Mental Health Day 2026, under the theme “Mental Health in Brunei Darussalam’s Economic Vision.
The event was held at the Presidential Lounge, Rizqun International Hotel, and featured a keynote address by Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar, Minister of Health.
In his keynote, YB Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham underscored the economic and organisational importance of mental health. He cited global data from the World Health Organisation estimating that depression and anxiety cost the global economy about US$1 trillion annually in lost productivity from approximately 12 billion lost working days every year.
Locally, a workplace survey conducted in 2020 revealed that 41% of respondents experienced high workplace pressure, 35% reported burnout and 27% experienced anxiety, while more than 13,000 individuals sought treatment for mental health concerns in 2024.
YB Dato stressed that mental health is a leadership issue as much as a public health concern by emphasising:
“Mental well-being directly affects leadership effectiveness. Leaders who prioritise their well-being are far better equipped to make sound decisions, lead teams with empathy and clarity, foster innovation, and build resilient organisations.”
He further emphasised the need to break stigma, normalise conversations about well-being, and integrate mental health into workplace culture. Practical measures such as encouraging open communication, constructive responses to mistakes, flexible work arrangements, and access to mental health resources were highlighted as key strategies for creating psychologically safe environments.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr Siva Subramaniam, Chair of BBBF, explained why the Forum chose to spotlight mental health in this year’s programme. He noted that mental well-being is essential to sustaining Brunei’s economic resilience and achieving the goals of Wawasan Brunei 2035.
Dr Siva said: “Supporting mental health — both personally and professionally — helps Brunei move closer to its vision of resilience and sustainability. As a business forum, we believe it is vital to create space for dialogue on how mental health impacts productivity, leadership, and community well-being.”
The event reinforced BBBF’s role as a platform for dialogue and collaboration between business leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders. Both speakers called for collective responsibility in supporting mental health, recognising that strong leaders build strong employees, strong businesses, and ultimately, strong economies.
The event concluded with Dr Siva Subramaniam, Chair of BBBF, presenting a token of appreciation to YB Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham, followed by a networking tea that brought together all guests for further dialogue and connection.
