Special Edition: Shaping the Future of Health, Work and Vitality

In this special edition of ConnectForHealth, we take you inside the Cigna International Health Study (CIHS) 2025 - UAE Edition - the most comprehensive look at the state of well-being, vitality, and workplace health across the Emirates.For the fourth consecutive year, mentl has authored the UAE white paper, tracking the nation’s wellbeing story as it rises year after year - even as global well-being softens. And this year’s findings are nothing short of remarkable.Joining host Scott Armstrong, founder of mentl, and co-host Maissa Al Khafajy, Head of Government Affairs and Strategic Communications at Cigna Healthcare MEA, are two powerhouse voices:Leah Cotterill, CEO, Cigna Healthcare Middle East and Africa (excl. KSA)Hana Agil, HR Director, MEA, International Organizations, Strategy, International Health, Cigna Healthcare)Together they unpack:Why the UAE is now a global leader in well-being and vitalityWhat’s driving unprecedented gains in mental health, optimism, and quality of lifeThe paradox of progress: rising vitality alongside persistent stress, loneliness, and financial pressureWhy 67% of employees are actively job-hunting yet 80% say they’d work harder for their employerWhat Gen Z is telling us about unmanageable stress and lonelinessHow company culture - and manager behaviour - directly shapes well-being, retention and productivityWhy healthcare benefits have overtaken flexible working as the number one most valued employee benefitHow AI and digital health are transforming expectationsThe urgent call for employers: one size no longer fits allThis is essential listening for business leaders, HR professionals, policymakers, and anyone shaping the future of work in the region.Chapter List  01:10 - Why CIHS matters  02:00 - UAE well-being and vitality outperforming global trends 03:20 - What makes the UAE different 05:10 - Stress, financial pressure and loneliness emerging as key tension points 07:00 - The UAE’s unique demographic resilience 09:00 - Government investment in well-being and mental health 10:10 - Mental health becomes the UAE’s number one priority 12:00 - Why ambition, mobility and personal development drive wellbeing 13:20 - The surprising rise of job-hunting (67%) 14:40 - Gen Z stress, unmanageable stress and loneliness 17:05 - Hybrid work, disconnection and the loss of workplace community 19:00 - The 53% manager-understanding problem 20:40 - Healthcare benefits become the number one preferred benefit 21:50 - Stress levels, family priorities and emotional load 24:00 - Social media, perfectionism and digital stressors 26:00 - Loneliness as a health risk (as harmful as 15 cigarettes a day) 28:30 - Why employers must take loneliness seriously 30:15 - Productivity, ROI and the business case for well-being 31:30 - Menopause, perimenopause and the cost of ignoring women’s health 34:00 - Manager training, empathy and psychological safety 36:00 - Gender wellbeing gaps and workplace realities 40:00 - The tension between ambition, parental guilt and family priorities 42:10 - The economic cost of disengagement in the UAE 43:40 - Why well-being is a business fundamental 45:00 - Leadership vulnerability and building trust 47:30 - Digital health, AI, telehealth and EAP adoption 53:00 - Trust as a barrier to digital and mental health support 54:00 - The employer–employee trust equation  56:00 - Final advice: the number one thing employers can do tomorrow 58:10 - Closing remarks and where to find the CIHS 2025 report