Prudential and its community investment arm Prudence Foundation are collaborating to launch Talk it Out, a mental health initiative in partnership with digital mental health service provider Intellect, the company in a press release on Wednesday, 2 July said.
Prudential said that through the programme, communities in need in Malaysia and Vietnam will have access to free mental health support. The company underscored the “growing challenge” of mental health in Southeast Asia, noting disparities in treatment caused by limited access to services, socioeconomic factors, and financial constraints.
To address these, the Talk it Out initiative aims to offer self-guided programmes, one-on-one coaching, as well as live consultations with licensed coaches, clinical psychologists, and counsellors through Intellect’s mental health application.
It will also be available in local languages, including Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese, Tamil, Vietnamese, French, and English, to maintain cultural relevance.
The initiative will target vulnerable and at-risk groups and will engage with local partners in the healthcare, education, and community sectors. These include youth, women, low-income parents and families, as well as marginalised and displaced communities.
Arjan Toor, Prudential CEO for Health, said the programme is a significant step in helping communities in two of its biggest markets, Malaysia and Vietnam.
“Mental wellbeing is intrinsically linked with peace of mind and enables people to lead resilient and meaningful lives. But there is a widening gap between the demand for mental health services and access to care, particularly within vulnerable communities,” Toor said.
In addition to the application, the company aims to hold in-community workshops and conduct awareness campaigns “to help reduce stigma” around mental health.
Diana Guzman, Chair of Prudence Foundation and Chief Sustainability Officer at Prudential, said mental health is a “critical part” of health protection. “Without support for emotional and psychological well-being, individuals and families are left vulnerable to the pressures of daily life,” Guzman said.
Theodoric Chew, Intellect’s chief executive and co-founder, added that its partnership with Prudence Foundation marks a step towards “universally accessible” mental health resources. “By leveraging technology, our clinical expertise and on-the-ground networks, we are able to deliver meaningful care to those who need it most, in a way that’s scalable, localised, and sustainable.”
