COVID-19 has brought about many mental health issues, one of them being individuals experiencing loneliness and isolation. To help our members avoid and deal with such feelings, SMOU invited Mr Eugene Chong, Director / Principal Counselling Psychologist with Seeing Minds and also a founding member and committee member for the Association of Psychotherapists and Counsellors Singapore (APACS), to share with our members how to manage such stresses when such obstacles arise.

He shared the science behind stress, its common causes, effects of stress on health, and lastly, the 4 A’s in stressful situations: Avoid the stressor, Alter the stressor, Adapt to the stressor, and Accept the stressor. He asserted the importance of having a reliable support system and shared personal anecdotes and what approaches he uses to deal with different situations.