The pandemic stress test on mental health

COVID-19 has taken a toll on the physical health of millions, but its effect on mental health should not be overlooked.

More than a third, or 35 per cent, of Singaporeans said their mental health has worsened since the start of the pandemic, according to a poll by life insurer Prudential Singapore. This compares with a quarter who reported a deterioration in physical health.

The survey, conducted from May to June 2021, looks at how the pandemic has impacted Singaporeans' prospects of living to 100, in terms of their personal health and well-being, as well as their financial situation.

The poll found that 42 per cent among the 1,218 Singapore residents surveyed said their stress and anxiety levels had worsened.

Senior Minister of State, Communications and Information, and Health, Janil Puthucheary, attributed the rise in mental health issues to social and economic repercussions.

"They are a result of people's social isolation, their loss of contact with family and friends, the economic fallout, and their anxiety over livelihoods. These are all known stress factors for mental health and have all intensified during the crisis," he said.

Indeed, 7 in 10 who reported a decline in mental health said their financial situations have worsened. The survey also reflected income anxiety.

Knock-on effects

Overall, 43 per cent of the respondents say the crisis has worsened their salary and wage-earning prospects, with the proportion highest (47 per cent) among those in mid-career aged 35 to 44, and almost as high (46 per cent) among 45 to 54-year-olds.

Remote working has also not been a universally positive experience in Singapore. While half enjoyed the experience, 36 per cent felt neutral or negative about it.

About 47 per cent said work-related stress has risen since the start of the pandemic, partly due to the challenges of having to balance their professional and personal lives when working at home.

Experts believe that stress levels are likely to subside if the effects of Covid-19 remain contained, but mental health problems are likely to linger and could have knock-on effects on people's physical well-being.

Daniel Fung, chief executive officer of the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), said there remain a lot more people seeking help from the IMH, even though it has been 18 months since the start of the pandemic. "The effects are still being felt," he said.

Although 62 per cent of those surveyed said they are happy in their most important relationships today, this is a considerable drop from 92 per cent who said so in 2018. About 4 in 10 were also doubtful about being able to find emotional support if an unexpected life event - such as job loss, death of a loved one, or sudden illness - were to happen this year.

That said, when it came to their readiness for old age, the survey respondents exhibited more optimism. 31 per cent said they feel prepared to live to 100 years old, from a health perspective, compared to 23 per cent in a survey in 2018.

This could be due to them paying greater attention to their physical health and dietary practices, as well as Singapore's relative success at keeping Covid-19 fatality rates low.

More awareness needed

Researchers behind the survey also noted that while the pandemic has improved Singaporeans' focus on personal hygiene and disease prevention, more can be done to raise citizens' awareness of mental health issues.

For instance, mental health literacy can also form part of workplace training. Health-awareness initiatives are often more effective when conducted at micro-level, within communities, they said.

"The use of peer groups among seniors, for example, can do much to raise awareness of diabetes risk and motivate people to control their diet more carefully.

Mental health training in communities can similarly teach people to recognise problems their neighbours may be experiencing," the researchers said in a report on the survey.

Prudential Singapore chief executive Dennis Tan highlighted the importance of technology in helping to improve quality of life.

"Healthtech is making it easier for people to access healthcare services wherever they are and take charge of their well-being.

"We are now empowered with the necessary information and tools at our fingertips, to understand our health needs better and address them in a timely manner. This preventative approach to healthcare will allow us to continue living a good quality of life for our extended years," Tan said.

In 2020, Prudential launched a digital app, Pulse, which gives users easy access to health and wellness solutions, such as a symptom checker, and video consultations with doctors.

Wealth features were added in 2021, allowing users to set and track their financial goals, budget spending, and seek tips from an artificial intelligence-powered digital assistant, among other things.

As at end-September this year, Pulse has seen 300,000 downloads in Singapore and some 31 million downloads across Asia and Africa.