Each week, TODAY’s long-running Big Read series delves into the trends and issues that matter. This week, we look at the emotional and mental toll on people who have lost their jobs amid the pandemic. This is a shortened version of the full feature,​ which can be found here.

• Psychologists and social workers are seeing more distressed individuals seeking help due to retrenchment or imminent job loss
• Challenges of being retrenched are amplified during the Covid-19 health crisis, amid anxiety over mortality and feelings of hopelessness, said social workers
• Inability to provide for the family may lead to pressure and stress on unemployed persons which in turn affect their relationships.
• A psychologist noted that social distancing restrictions have inadvertently impaired the social support that one would normally receive
• Affected individuals can take steps to help themselves cope, but support from family and friends are important too

SINGAPORE — Since she lost her job as a business coordinator, Ms Sook Tan has been going through an emotional rollercoaster. There are days when she is kind to herself, but far more days when she wallows in self-doubt.

“There is always a lot of self-doubt going on in my head,” said the 32-year-old. “I might think that I'm trying my best, but is that the actual best or just what I think is best?” 

She added: “There were days where I woke up just worried about what’s going to happen... The stress of not having a job was very new to me.”

For now, she has taken on two temporary jobs — providing marketing support for an events production firm in the day, waitressing at night — in a bid to ensure that she can still provide her mother, who has lupus, with the same level of care and comfort as before.

As she has been working every day for three weeks, she feels that she may be close to a burnout. Still, she tries to maintain a strong front for her mother and has avoided sharing her problems with her friends since they may be going through their own set of challenges.

“Sometimes it does eat me up inside,” she said.

Likewise, Mr Wee Toon Hee, 59, has been losing sleep over worries about his livelihood.

As a busker who does juggling acts and freelances as a tour guide on the side, he has been without income since March when tighter social-distancing measures were imposed by the authorities to limit the spread of the coronavirus. His 50-year-old wife, who also worked as a tour guide, is not bringing home the bacon either.

“We’ve saved for the rainy days, but little did we know that the rainy days would be (so) long,” said Mr Wee, adding that he is panicking over his family's finances. “My savings are actually at a very dangerous level now. As a matter of fact, I took a loan from my insurance policy just two weeks ago.”

Ms Tan and Mr Wee are not alone in feeling that the loss of a livelihood has taken a toll on their mental health.

Psychologists and social workers whom TODAY spoke to said they are seeing more distressed individuals seeking help due to retrenchment or imminent job loss.

Mr Praveen Nair, a psychologist at Raven Counselling and Consultancy, said there is a psychological theory that the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened the mental health of the retrenched.

“Anything that reminds people of their mortality or death will cause anxiety,” he said.

“Imagine if a person is retrenched, they're already feeling anxiety. At the same time, you're surrounded by a global pandemic that reinforces that economies are crashing, jobs are less, and that you could even die.

“So you can imagine how that would heighten any existing levels of anxiety.”

Dr Joel Yang, a clinical psychologist at Mind What Matters, noted that social distancing restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19 — especially those in place during the circuit breaker  — have inadvertently impaired the social support that one would normally receive.

"While online alternatives to seeking professional and social support exist, many do not feel as comfortable with such tools and by default would remain isolated," he said.

TODAY reported earlier this week that calls to Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), a non-profit suicide prevention centre, went up by 36 per cent during the circuit breaker period compared to the same period last year. 

A total of 10,671 calls were made between April and June, compared with 7,844 calls made in that period in 2019. That was the circuit breaker period when Singapore imposed stay-home curbs and shut down most activities to arrest the spread of the coronavirus, with restrictions lifted at the start of June.

Separately, SOS chief executive Gasper Tan told TODAY that from March to August, it has received an average of 144 calls per month with issues pertaining to job loss or unemployment — a slight increase from the average of 141 over the same period last year. 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said the National Care Hotline had managed over 27,900 calls as of Aug 21. Most of the callers were adults above 21, and their top concerns pertained to mental health, marital and family disputes.

“Many needed emotional support,” said an MSF spokesperson.

The hotline was set up in April to provide psychological and emotional support to people amid the coronavirus pandemic

LOSING ONE’S SENSE OF SELF-WORTH

Some social workers said job losses have also resulted in strained familial relationships and even thoughts of suicide.

Ms Lydia Tan, the principal social worker for voluntary welfare organisation Care Corner, said she encountered a young client who had lost her job in the tourism industry.

As the client could not find a related job, she accepted a call centre job working from home.

“However, it was challenging as she needed a quiet home environment but she lived with many family members,” Ms Tan said.  “It created a lot of conflict in the family and it was stressful for her. She was depressed over her lower take-home pay and strained relationships with family.”

Ms Joyz Tan, a senior social worker at the Fei Yue Family Service Centre, said she and her colleagues have come across cases where thoughts of suicide were triggered by the loss of a job.

“Emotional health can be affected when we strongly associate our self-worth to our job or job security,” she said.

Ms Lydia Tan added that when an individual’s sense of self-worth is challenged, they may feel aggrieved at their inability to provide for the family, especially if they are the sole breadwinner.  

She said: “This could result in feelings of high pressure and stress which may affect the marital and parental relationships. In the extreme case, it may result in family violence.”

SIGNS TO WATCH OUT FOR

According to Dr Cherie Chan, president of Singapore Psychological Society (SPS), some telltale signs that someone’s mental health may be affected include:

• Increased anxiety

• Social withdrawal and isolation

• Increased use of substances such as alcohol and drugs

• Increased expressions of anger and worry about providing for their family or themselves

Dr Chan said: “This may lead to increased suicide risk should unemployment continue… unemployment and job loss often bring a great sense of hopelessness, uncertainty and perceived threats which studies have shown lead to greater risks of developing mental health problems.”

HELPING ONESELF, OTHERS COPE WITH JOB LOSS

For those who have been retrenched, Mr Nair suggested:

• Taking time to find out what their real passion is, and preparing themselves for a new working life

• Volunteering in the community

• Taking on any job until something better arrives

• Looking out for opportunities to try things such as starting on a fitness regime, or a new business

• Setting aside time to actively look for a job

• Gaining knowledge in a topic of interest, or an area relevant to building a career

• Being mindful of one’s diet, as foods affect mood

Dr Yang said affected individuals should also try to recognise that this is “merely a moment of time in (their) life” and that they should try to shift focus on what they can do moving forward.

Just as important is being able to talk to someone about your emotions, said SOS’ Mr Tan.

“The fear of being a disappointment and embarrassment may lead individuals to hide their struggles and put on a facade that they may be coping well,” he added. “However, when we are able to openly talk about our emotions and thoughts, it helps to put things into perspective and manage the anxiety one may be feeling (before) it gets too overwhelming.”

For friends or loved ones of those who have been retrenched, these are what they can do, as suggested by psychologists: 

• Do not treat the subject as taboo, as it could make the affected individual feel worse

• Avoid meaningless platitudes such as “Don’t worry. I’m sure you will find a new job soon” or “It is what it is”

• Be empathetic and try to understand the retrenched worker as he goes through the grieving process of losing his or her job

• Regularly check in on affected individuals to prevent their social isolation and withdrawal

• Have conversations with or engage the unemployed in activities to help them see that their lives are made up of more than just work

Dr Yang said that many retrenched workers are able to cope with support from family and friends. However, “if their challenges are acute, encourage them to seek professional help”, he advised.

BROADER SUPPORT

Apart from seeking assistance at the various family service centres, the National Care Hotline or SOS, MSF said individuals can also find out about available government support at https://www.supportgowhere.gov.sg/ 

On its part, the SPS has started the “One Psych Community” initiative which puts together a list of psychologists who have stepped forward to help specifically with the Covid-19 situation, by offering their services either pro bono or at reduced rates.

MSF said that it provides ComCare assistance to low-income households to meet their basic living expenses, and household income is one qualifying criterion because it is a proxy for family support and wealth.

“However, it is not the sole criterion. When low-income households apply to our Social Service Offices (SSOs) for ComCare assistance, their needs are assessed holistically,” said the MSF spokesperson.

The spokesperson said ComCare beneficiaries receive comprehensive support, which may include monthly cash assistance for living expenses, assistance with household bills, and assistance with medical bills. In addition, they may receive employment assistance and referrals to other government agencies and community partners for case work and counselling.

If their circumstances have changed, existing ComCare clients can approach their SSOs to request a review of their current support, said the spokesperson. 

“SSOs will increase their current level of ComCare support if needed. If the individual or family comes forward with urgent needs, our SSOs will also provide them with ComCare Interim Assistance (cash), while reviewing their assistance package,” said the spokesperson.