[ad_1]
Amid the unprecedented events of 2020, many Singaporeans have risen to the challenge, showing resilience, optimism and determination in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the run-up to the new year, we feature a profile of 21 people sharing more about their respective journeys, as well as their hopes and aspirations for 2021.
He describes his role as a volunteer at the National Care Hotline (NCH) as administering “psychological first aid.”
Mr. Paul Yong, 31, is a psychologist with the Singapore Prison Service, where, for the past six years, he has conducted risk assessments and interventions for violent and social offenders.
But from April to July this year, Paul helped run the phone lines at NCH on eight-hour shifts on weekends. People called in feeling stressed over issues ranging from job loss and financial hardship to marriage and family disputes.
“We offer an attentive ear, provide emotional support, suggest coping strategies, and refer callers who may have deeper issues to relevant agencies that can better support them,” he explained.
Share more about your experience helping Singaporeans get through some of the darkest months of 2020.
What led you to volunteer at NCH?
Growing up, I had family and friends who struggled with mental illness. This led me to realize that there is a lot of stigma and myths surrounding mental health.
I saw volunteering as an opportunity to give back to society. Many of us have experienced drops in our emotional or psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are also vulnerable groups that may be isolated at home, including those with mental health needs, the elderly, and people with disabilities. It is important to have a channel for anyone experiencing challenging moments to come up and be heard.
My wife, who has been very supportive of me, also had a fair amount of experiences supporting her students and family members with mental health needs during this period. We had many in-depth conversations about the mental health needs of Singaporeans, which led us to want to be a stronger voice for the underserved.
According to Paul, not being able to observe callers’ non-verbal cues was the biggest challenge while volunteering at NCH.
At NCH, did you work as a team or was it more of a solo effort? Was there a challenge?
We don’t take calls alone. There is a group chat of volunteers and supervisors set up for the shift. This group chat allows us to communicate with each other, provide relevant resources, and receive guidance from our supervisors to better assist callers. I think the biggest challenge we faced was helping people who call on the phone without being able to observe non-verbal cues, like body language. Active listening skills are very important to overcome this challenge and understand the needs of the caller.
Can you share some ideas and encounters from your time running the phone lines?
The effects of isolation are real and affect many. Despite the challenges some callers faced, they were able to leverage their strengths and means to cope. People can be very resilient, more than they realize, and this needs to be reflected on some occasions.
I also found that Singaporeans are ready to serve and support others even when they themselves are going through challenges. For example, I had a caller who was experiencing marital problems and yet was willing to go the extra mile for members of her own family: she had to care for her children and be the caregiver for her mother who had marriage problems. mental health.
Another poignant encounter was when I was on the line with a middle-aged person who had been duped into a possible love scam. She felt stressed because the ‘lover’ had been harassing her to buy more things for him and she suffered from sleepless nights. After talking to her for about thirty minutes, she calmed down and we were able to discuss some coping strategies that she could try. At the end of the call, she was grateful for the support because she felt like she couldn’t speak to anyone due to her embarrassment and embarrassment.
Do you think COVID-19 has caused an increase in mental health problems? Do you have any recommendations on how to improve our overall mental health?
Social isolation, coupled with a bleak economic outlook or the impact of a loss of income caused by COVID-19, likely contributed to more mental health problems, when there are prolonged feelings of fear, worry and anxiety.
Taking care of our emotional and psychological health is important for Singaporeans to emerge stronger from the pandemic. Some helpful ways to do this are by managing exposure to media reports about the pandemic, participating in hobbies, connecting with others, or communicating when support is needed.
Paul sees himself as a voice for mental wellness.
Overall, what did you get from being a listening ear at NCH?
My participation made me reflect on the importance of community and that it is okay not to be well. Sometimes we need to turn our “mess” into a “message”. That means two things: Being willing to ask for help when you need it by calling or texting someone; and also use our stories of recovery as a means to empower and encourage others.
What do you aspire to next year?
Professionally, I look forward to continuing on my lifelong learning journey. My hope is that what I do on a daily basis will one day free people, free from stress or anxiety, and free from recidivism. Personally, I hope to be more kind and compassionate to those around me.
What do you expect from Singapore in 2021?
It is darkest before dawn. My hope for Singapore in 2021 is that we continue to persevere and keep our aspirations alive.
What message would you like to share with your fellow Singaporeans as we enter the new year?
While we cannot change our past or control what happens to us, what we do today can make a difference tomorrow. Let us also be grateful for what we have and continue united.
Share your thoughts, hopes, and aspirations for 2021, from now until December 30 at 11:59 p.m. Upload your videos on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok with the hashtags #SGTogetherBetterTomorrow and # LetsCelebrate2021. The top 21 spots can earn S $ 210 in coupons. Visit mediacorp.sg/letscelebrate2021/sgtogether for more details. Terms and Conditions apply.
