Prudential and Prudence Foundation Launch Free Mental Health Support in Malaysia and Vietnam

Prudential and Prudence Foundation Launch Free Mental Health Support in Malaysia and Vietnam

(IN BRIEF) Prudential plc and its Prudence Foundation have partnered with Intellect to launch Talk It Out, a free mental health programme for underserved groups in Malaysia and Vietnam. Through the Intellect app—available in six local languages—users access self-help modules, live coaching, counselling, and a 24/7 helpline, with referrals to one-on-one professional care as needed. The initiative will engage vulnerable communities via local healthcare, education, and social partners, supplemented by workshops and awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and improve mental health literacy. This effort addresses significant treatment gaps in Southeast Asia, where one in seven people live with a mental health condition and service access remains limited. Prudential’s health CEO Arjan Toor and Prudence Foundation Chair Diana Guzman emphasize the programme’s role in fostering resilience and peace of mind, while Intellect’s co-founder Theodoric Chew highlights the blend of technology and clinical expertise to deliver sustainable support.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 2-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Prudential plc and Prudence Foundation, its community investment arm, have teamed up with digital mental health provider Intellect to launch Talk It Out—a free support programme designed to extend mental healthcare to vulnerable and at-risk populations in Malaysia and Vietnam. Leveraging Intellect’s app, participants will gain access to self-guided wellness modules, live consultations with certified coaches, psychologists, and counsellors, plus a 24/7 helpline in local languages. Where deeper intervention is needed, users can be referred to one-on-one sessions with regional mental health professionals.

Talk It Out underscores Prudence Foundation’s dedication to holistic health resilience by tackling the growing mental wellbeing crisis in Southeast Asia. An estimated one in seven people in the region—around 260 million individuals—experience mental health conditions, with treatment gaps reaching up to 40 percent in some countries¹. Barriers such as cost, stigma, and limited service availability leave many without care.

The initiative will partner with local healthcare, educational, and community organisations to identify and engage high-need groups—ranging from at-risk youth and women to low-income families and displaced communities. Complementary in-community workshops and awareness campaigns will promote mental health literacy, counter stigma, and guide participants to appropriate resources. The Intellect platform is fully localised into Bahasa Malaysia, Tamil, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and English to ensure cultural relevance and ease of use.

Arjan Toor, CEO of Health at Prudential plc, remarked, “Peace of mind is born from knowing you have access to the care you need. Mental wellbeing is the cornerstone of resilience, yet too many face obstacles in seeking support. By launching Talk It Out in Malaysia and Vietnam—two of our largest health markets—we aim to bridge that gap and deliver seamless, no-cost mental health services to those who need them most.”

Diana Guzman, Chair of Prudence Foundation and Chief Sustainability Officer at Prudential plc, added, “Affordability and accessibility should never stand between people and mental healthcare. Talk It Out represents our commitment to lasting, community-centered impact by providing free, culturally attuned support that empowers individuals to thrive.”

Theodoric Chew, CEO and Co-Founder of Intellect, said, “This collaboration allows us to combine technology, clinical expertise, and local partnerships to create scalable, sustainable mental health solutions. We’re proud to bring Talk It Out to underserved communities in Southeast Asia.”

Prudential, recognised as a Tier 1 organisation in the 2025 CCLA Corporate Mental Health Benchmark, remains committed to promoting mental wellbeing in both workplace and community settings. Organisations interested in supporting this initiative can contact prudencefoundation@prudential.com.hk.

About Prudential plc 

Prudential plc provides life and health insurance and asset management in 24 markets across Asia and Africa. Prudential’s mission is to be the most trusted partner and protector for this generation and generations to come, by providing simple and accessible financial and health solutions. The business has dual primary listings on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (2378) and the London Stock Exchange (PRU). It also has a secondary listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange (K6S) and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange (PUK) in the form of American Depositary Receipts. It is a constituent of the Hang Seng Composite Index and is also included for trading in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme and the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme.

Prudential is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc. a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America, nor with The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom.

www.prudentialplc.com

About Prudence Foundation

Established in 2011 in Hong Kong, Prudence Foundation is the community investment and philanthropic arm of Prudential plc.

The Foundation builds financial wellbeing, and climate and health resilience for underserved Asian and African communities. We are committed to sustainable, long-term solutions that empower individuals and communities to make informed financial decisions, access affordable financial products, as well as be more prepared and protected against climate related health risks. We actively engage in public-private partnerships, collaborate with governments, NGOs, communities and other private sector entities to build collective efforts for lasting change. To date, our programmes are implemented across 16 markets in Asia and Africa, reaching millions of people.

For more information: www.prudencefoundation.com

About Intellect

Intellect is a trusted global leader in mental health care, providing accessible, culturally-localised support through comprehensive solutions that address diverse needs at every stage of the mental health journey. Available in 120+ languages, Intellect’s comprehensive local network of providers is accessible in 100+ countries. Online and offline, it has made a difference in the lives of over 4 million users around the world.

Intellect is backed by influential investors including Tiger Global, Insignia Ventures Partners, Y Combinator, HOF Capital, MS&AD Ventures, and East Ventures, alongside prominent venture funds, family offices, big tech executives, and angel investors. In 2025, Intellect was named as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies and Human Resources Online’s Best Digital Wellness Platform (Gold) in 2023.

Media Contacts:

Kho Hui-Yi
+852 6298 9676
kho.hui.yi@prudential.com.hk

Sonia Tsang
+852 5580 7525
sonia.ok.tsang@prudential.com.hk

SOURCE: Prudential plc