SINGAPORE (8th September 2021) – foodpanda is partnering with Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) to encourage people in Singapore to open up and be honest about how they feel, in a bid to normalise talking about mental health – starting with a cookie. On 10th September on World Suicide Prevention Day, foodpanda, together with Singapore’s favourite bubble tea brand LiHO, will be distributing an Honest Cookie with every LiHO delivery or pick-up order made on the platform. There are 10,000 cookies available in total, and customers will be able to get them from all LiHO outlets islandwide until stocks last.

 

When cracked open, the cookie reveals a slip of paper with a simple yet personal question to spur honest and heartfelt conversations. Written in Singapore’s four national languages, the project also seeks to invite all Singaporeans to participate in intergenerational conversations around mental health.

 

The Honest Cookie project aims to encourage conversations around mental health awareness while bonding over food. By providing easy conversation starters around mental health, the project seeks to shift the culture from one of silence, to one of curiosity and empathy so that people who struggle with their mental wellbeing may feel more comfortable sharing their experiences and seeking help.

 

This is especially important during times of crisis, as past data have shown that the number of suicide deaths tend to increase after a crisis. A study by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) also found that 13 per cent of respondents reported symptoms of anxiety or depression during the pandemic. Thus, it is all the more paramount to have candid conversations and discussions around suicide prevention and mental health now.

 

Gasper Tan, Chief Executive of SOS shared, “We are heartened by the continuous support of foodpanda and are grateful to be partnering them to encourage intergenerational and honest conversations amongst family and friends to break the silence around mental health. With their help, we will be able to reach out to the wider community by distributing The Honest Cookie via their merchant – LiHO. With more of such collaborations, we hope to continue building an inclusive community by reaching out to those who are facing a crisis and provide adequate support.”

 

foodpanda will also provide nearly S$30,000 worth of marketing support to spread awareness about The Honest Cookie project. In line with its ongoing initiatives to support staff’s mental health, foodpanda will also be distributing over 300 Honest Cookies to panda employees to encourage them to care for their mental health. This follows a series of initiatives that have been launched to encourage pandas to prioritize mental health, including rolling out days off to recharge, as well as organizing a series of mental health awareness talks.

 

Otavio Calixto, Managing Director at foodpanda Singapore, said: “Our collaboration with Samaritans of Singapore on The Honest Cookie project provides a timely reminder that taking care of one’s mental health is essential, especially in such uncertain times. Together with our partner LiHO, we want to make it even more convenient for our customers to get their hands on The Honest Cookie, and to encourage them to start having conversations about their feelings. We will also be distributing The Honest Cookie to all our panda employees as we want our pandas to set aside time to breathe and know that it is ok to ask for help. Through this initiative, we hope to strengthen the community support network and ensure that no one is left behind.”

 

For more details on the campaign, please visit the campaign website. Kindly note that the campaign website launches on 10 September 2021.