FWD launches FWD Mind Strength to promote mental health support in Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City, 22^nd September 2023 - FWD Vietnam Life Insurance Company (“FWD”) today launched “FWD Mind Strength”, a first-in-the-market comprehensive digital mental health program to provide Vietnamese with a convenient and confidential way to actively protect and strengthen their minds. This programme is developed by FWD Group and available for FWD markets.

“FWD Mind Strength” launch follows the survey carried out by FWD Group in October 2022 that interviewed 10.000 people in 16 international markets to understand the mental health issues people expected to face in the coming year. The result indicates that:

• 72% of Vietnamese respondents faced mental health challenges.
• 38% of Vietnamese respondents agreed that difficulty in sharing with others about mental issues prevented them from seeking external help.
• 33% of Vietnamese respondents believed that the challenge in finding a practitioner posed a problem when seeking external help.
• 40% Vietnamese respondents trusted that mental health holds the key to solve persistent health problems.
• 81% preferred to practice new habits and plan by themselves to improve mental health.

Mr. Vuong Gia Vu, Chief Financial and Business Officer of FWD Vietnam, shared: “The difficulty in finding a right practitioner and the negative stigma attached to mental health care are the two major obstacles that prevent many Vietnamese people from getting the mental health support. At FWD, we're reframing 'mental health' as 'mind strength' to give it a positive association and encourage people to take control of their mind's wellbeing by providing the tools and resources to help people build and maintain their mind strength."

Through FWD Mind Strength, FWD is providing all Vietnamese people from 18 years old and above three complimentary services that provides:

1. Mind Strength Assessment: A simple and scientifically-validated assessment tool developed by Koa Health⁽¹⁾ that evaluates a person’s mental health condition in terms of depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and impairment of work and social life with just 21 questions.
2. Mind Strength coaching: After evaluating the status of their mind strength, a person can register for a 1-month free trial of Mind Strength coaching service with mental health experts from ThoughtFull⁽²⁾ via the ThoughtFullChat app to get the results explained and build up an effective mind strengthening journey.
3. Mind Strength resources: Useful tips and information in mental health articles written by ThoughtFull experts are available online to help individuals improve and enhance mental strength.

To learn more about FWD Mind Strength and actively protect and strengthen mental health, visit: fwd.com.vn/en/mindstrength.

About FWD Vietnam

FWD Group is a pan-Asian life insurance business with more than 11 million customers across 10 markets, including some of the fastest-growing insurance markets in the world. FWD reached its 10-year anniversary in 2023.

FWD Vietnam was established in 2016 and is a part of FWD Group. The company is focused on making the insurance journey simpler, faster, and smoother, with innovative propositions and easy-to-understand products, supported by digital technology. Through this customer-led approach, FWD is committed to changing the way people feel about insurance. Visit: www.fwd.com.vn

Annotate:

(1) Koa Health – The only independent digital mental healthcare provider that offers integrated mental health solutions, from improving well-being to supporting treatment for a range of common mental disorders.

(2) Thoughtfull – An independent service provider about professional mental health consultancy.