I received a WhatsApp message when it was almost bedtime. The sender was in my team a few years ago. She was a fast learner and a high performer. Like many people these days, she is overwhelmed by work. Besides the never-ending tasks coming from the top, she is stressed by difficult people and office politics. Under high pressure, she feels that she is close to a mental breakdown.

Stress intensified in a pandemic

Under a prolonged pandemic, work-from-home arrangement and home-based learning of school-going children leave us with no break, no work-life balance and no peer support. From the frowning faces of their parents, the children can feel the tense atmosphere at home. They sense that there are ongoing family conflicts, work problems or financial troubles. According to a poll by Prudential Singapore, 35 percent of Singaporeans said their mental health worsened since the outbreak of Covid-19. Quitting a stressful job is the last resort....