In the context of the pandemic and the circuit breaker in Singapore, the designation of psychological treatments as a non-essential service is an obvious starting point. Yet, it also seems appropriate to both consider the state of mental health wellness and advocacy in the country before the pandemic, as well as our aspirations for where we want mental health wellness and advocacy to be.

Singapore is expected to enter a full-year recession, and the ripple effect of pay cuts and hiring freezes is just beginning. Even with the Unity, Resilience, and Solidarity Budgets, graduating students from the institutes of higher learning and the universities are justifiably anxious.

Not having a computer or an Internet connection, it might be argued, is symbolic of the many challenges faced by low-income Singaporean households (with school-going children). And even with government assistance – beyond the provision of such technological necessities – individuals and community groups have also stepped up, offering other forms of assistance to Singaporeans who may have fallen through the cracks.

Mutual aid initiatives – facilitating the exchange of resources and services for mutual benefit – started as Google spreadsheets, but could potentially evolve into virtual and ground communities which last beyond the coronavirus pandemic.