PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE: CAN SINGAPORE SEE THE LIGHT OF HOPE IN THIS WAR OVER COVID-19?
Written By: Adrian LEE, MSc (Security Management), MBA, CCTP, ACTA, PMC 10928
“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is…fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes.” Franklin D. Roosevelt
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, panic poses tremendous strain in Singapore, of which the city-state is no exception to the onslaught of challenges. On 3 April 20, a nationwide “Circuit Breaker” was announced by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. This announcement was another dosage of a slew of calibrated responses implemented by the Singapore Government to stay ahead of the curve in the war against the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Ministry of Health press release on 28 March 20, Singaporeans who do not observe physical distancing of one metre in “non-transient” interactions can be fined up to SGD10,000 or be jailed up to six months or face both penalties. The penalties will apply to those flouting stay-at-home notices.
On 7 April 20, Singapore implemented a suite of “Circuit Breaker” measures introducing more restrictive measures; however, it had not amounted into total lockdown. These include physical distancing of at least one meter is mandated in public settings such as in markets, hawker centres, full Home-Based Learning (HBL) for schools, closure of workplace premises. All non-essential services were ordered to close such as Bars, clubs, cinemas and other entertainment outlets are shut till 30 April 20.
Essential services[1] like healthcare, social services, financial services, cleaning services, and water, energy, and environment-related services will continue to operate. Singapore implemented these restrictions to combat the rising number of infection due to communal spreading in various clusters such as in foreign worker dormitories, pre-school centres.
While Singapore continues to combat the COVID-19, social responsibility is critical in slowing the spread of COVID-19. All Singaporeans needs to do the right thing to win the war against the COVID-19 pandemic. The restrictions aimed at minimising transmission and curb communal spreading by “break” the COVID-19 spread.
In dealing with the COVID-19, it is crucial to address the emotional aspects that the COVID-19 pandemic generates. As the protracted war rages, emotions such as fatigue, fear, and panic will set in. It undermines a person’s ability to think, focus on the priorities, and make informed decisions. Such negativities are as contagious and deadly as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rarely has the threat of pandemic occupied so much of every Singaporean’s mind. For weeks, almost every newspaper posted stories of the COVID-19 pandemic on its front page; radio and TV programmes had back-to-back coverage on the latest death tolls, and social media platforms filled with frightening statistics, practical advice or gallows humour.
“The threat of contagion can twist our psychological responses to ordinary interactions, leading us to behave in unexpected ways.” David Robson
The negativity emotions impact begins physiologically. The fear and uncertainty fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic put extreme pressure on society and various nations’ finite resources, including Singapore. The consequences include poor decision-making, breakdown, and burnout of the whole country and its citizens. The country may experience symptoms such as anxiety, distress, and fear of the impact of the Singapore Government’s stringent safe distancing measures. This myriad of emotions generated effects every Singaporeans, especially the vulnerable groups, especially the seniors or less privileged population.
The dilemma in decision-making whether to implement a draconian “lockdown” or a more calibrated response had been a bane to many governments. Mainly, Governments want to assure their citizens that the authorities can cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and did not want to fan the flames of hysteria.
This hysteria fanned by constant social media, international media and so-call medical experts who had different opinions and views on the same subject matter. The social media had become a marketplace for uncontrolled expression of fear vis-a-vis reliable official source like Gov.sg that provide informed messages.
On 11 March 20 Bloomberg Television interview, Communications and Information Minister, S Iswaran said that the COVID-19 is both a “healthcare and communication” challenge and a “real test of the resilience of a society”. He said that the Government had sought to communicate information about the COVID-19 spread in a “timely, accurate and transparent manner”. Therefore, it is essential to act against misinformation and falsehoods using Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), as these could spread fear and panic.
Online chat or blogs sometimes magnified the panic and spread toxic rumours without understanding the impact of their actions. For example, it rumoured that whenever Singapore PM made a public announcement to “Calm down”, many Singaporeans will imply that it is “going to a higher DORSCON (i.e. RED)”. They will panic buy and “Come Down” to the various supermarkets, IT malls or even IKEA to get their items.
Constant bombardment by social media can result in heightened anxiety, with immediate effects on mental health. The feeling of threat has other, more insidious, impact on a person’s psychology. Due to escalating COVID-19 restrictions, anxiety and fears lead Singaporeans to become more self-centred, and less accepting of other people as well as authorities’ position. Moral judgements become cynical and socially irresponsible when faced with impending safe-distancing measures implemented.
These are exhibited by irresponsible communal gathering and mindless rush to IKEA, Sim Lim Square, Toy R Us to purchase items like computers, furniture in anticipation of Home-Based Learning (HBL) when the school are closed on 8 April 20.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
“We understand that businesses and workers are under stress,” said Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Chan at the press conference
In the Fear Zone, the increased anxiety and fear of COVID-19 coupled with the escalating enforcement measures leads to “Xia Suay or disgrace/shameful” exhibitions of panic buying to grab toilet paper, food. Other behaviour exhibited such as “mindless” forwarding of messages, blogs, videos that may be false and not adequately checked for source reliability.
Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Chan Chun Sing commented that, when the society starts to panic buy, the suppliers will use the opportunity to raise prices of goods. He said, “already got people trying to raise the price. Then we all behave like idiots, the foreign supplier lagi raise their price.”
Learning Zone: Family and Community Out-Reach Programme
The support for the senior citizens and less privileged urgently needed with increased outreach efforts to be carried out, such as home visits by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or healthcare teams. These efforts are essential to prevent loneliness and heightened isolation among the senior citizen and less privileged during tighter COVID-19 safe distancing measures.
“With further distancing measures in place, the lack of social interaction and physical activity could have a negative impact on the mental and physical health of vulnerable elderly populations,” said Dr Chris Tsoi a senior consultant from the department of psychological medicine at the National University Hospital (NUH)
Efforts such as volunteers at Lions Befrienders and The Singapore Red Cross provides customised care packages, and psycho-social support calls for senior citizens living alone, home visits to medium or high-risk senior citizens (home-bound, senior caregivers and potential suicide or abuse cases).
On 6 April 20, Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee highlighted the Silver Generation Office out-reach programme to vulnerable senior citizens such as those living alone or those who are frail. “Since last month, Silver Generation Ambassadors have started visiting these seniors in their homes to communicate COVID-19 precautionary measures, such as hygiene tips and social distancing,” Mr Lee said.
Some senior citizens are roped in to help with national efforts to tackle heightened isolation during tighter COVID-19 safe distancing measures. RSVP Singapore, a volunteer group, distributed hand sanitisers and packed essentials like masks for front-line transport workers.
“We have received much positive feedback from our volunteers, who have enjoyed their volunteering sessions,” the chairman of RSVP Singapore, Mr Koh Juay Meng, PBM said.
As many senior citizens are not technologically savvy and are non-English educated, more digital education and IT awareness programme are needed. This programme can be through a social group or daily neighbourhood updates by PA Grassroot Leaders (GRL) or Resident Committee (RC) in their mother tongue language. This initiative is to encourage the senior citizens or less privileged to be updated to news about COVID-19, stay in touch and create “buddy systems” to make sure vulnerable and hard-to-reach people stay more connected to render any assistance if needed.
Some senior citizens had learned other ways to cope with the heightened isolation by talking to friends over the hand-phone, singing and watching television. Teleconferencing apps such as FaceTime, Skype, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat can help to combat loneliness and isolation. By encouraging the senior citizens with necessary tools like hand-phones and Wi-Fi connectivity should enable them to lead a more independent and empowered life by being more digitally-savvy.
Growth Zone: Fear can allow you time to reflect and, ultimately, make better decisions
Growth Zone, there are many situations that currently Singaporeans face that are with uncertainty. Some Singaporeans are considering whether they can afford to keep their businesses open, while others stand to lose a lot of money on the stringent “Circuit Breaker” measures. Typically, there are a few responses as a result of uncertain or insecure situations, namely: (1) “freeze” responses, i.e. do not know what to do, and (2) impulsive reactions, i.e. “fight or flight” responses.
While the anxiety, panic, and fear during the COVID-19 pandemic can make it hard not to respond impulsively, find ways to exercise more control and manage the emotional negativity.
“Fight or Flight”
Let’s consider the general attitudes to society norms — and the people who break the stringent measures with messages such as “breaking social norms can have harmful unintended consequences”. Singaporeans will face:
• First offence: Stern written warning.
• Second offence: $300 fine.
• Third offence: Prosecution in court.
Since 7 April 20, there was over 7000 advisories[2] issued to Singapore Citizen to members of the public who breached the stricter safe distancing measures that kicked in on the first day of Singapore’s “circuit breaker” month. Most of the breaches occurred at hawker centres and markets, the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) said.
“This is to protect the seniors to minimise the risk of exposure to virus attacks.” said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong
Continual vigilance
Generally, people who violated these norms are not only put themselves at risk but affected others as well. When people fear contagion and its fallout, they tend to be harsher and judgemental against a breach of social norms or regulatory law. In those incidents, by flouting social norms or convention, they are perceived “bad” as they may break other existing rules or regulations. Even extremely subtle reminders can shape Singaporean behaviours and attitudes such as constant reminders to observe personal hygiene, washing hands and practice SGClean. As a result, Singaporeans becomes more receptive of convention rules and regulations in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Perhaps it is time to strengthen Singapore mental resilience against the negativity of COVID-19 through courage, vigilance and solidarity in war against COVID-19.
Fear brings out the worst in a society as it makes people anxious, fearful and stressed as exhibited by panic buying at Ikea. By inculcating a spirit of a united Singapore resilience is critical. It unites Singaporean in coping with the stresses stemming from the safe distancing measures to contain the COVID-19 spread.
GLIMPSE OF HOPE
In this COVID-19 pandemic, it is a litmus test for Singaporean. It is a test of Singaporean’s notion of citizenship and societal fabrics. COVID-19 impact is not only in the present healthcare challenges but its long-term economic and social aftermath. This challenge means that the community and the Government must tighten our belts and implement economic stimulus as well as maintain social cohesion in a sustainable and sensible for the long-term recovery.
Whether it comes to our personal lives, our finances, our job status, or the state of our country and our economy, the right time to make decisions is when Singapore is united.
Where there are confusion and change, (often at the mercy of negative emotions), decisions must be made with more mental clarity and fortitude. It is tempting to respond impulsively at times where emotions are running high; the COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity for Singapore to show our mettle, compassion, patience, adaptability and be socially responsible.
Not only will we survive this pandemic, but we will be judged by how we survived it, by what we become afterwards. We will either be transformed by our actions or damaged by our failure to live up to our potential. We must stand united in the face of darkness in this war against such contagion of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Healthy People, Healthy Economy, Healthy Nation…No People, No Economy, No Nation
Be Safe, Stay Vigilant, Ever Ready.… AND STAY AT HOME!
Thank you.
[1] Minister for Trade and Industry, Chan Chun Sing announced on 3 April 20
[2] Coronavirus: Not practising safe distancing? Repeat offenders can be fined $300 and even hauled to court (Straits Times). https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/please-just-stay-homeor-else dated 10 Apr 20.
