People behind hotlines: Dealing with the silent mental health pandemic Heart of the Matter People behind hotlines: Dealing with the silent mental health pandemic During the circuit breaker last year, calls to mental healthcare hotlines shot up - Singaporeans were stressed, anxious, lonely and struggling. 27 May 2021 04:57PM (Updated: 27 May 2021 05:14PM) During the circuit breaker last year, calls to mental healthcare hotlines shot up - Singaporeans were stressed, anxious, lonely and struggling. Who are the people on the other end of the line who answer these anguished calls for help? How do they manage burnout and the burden of caring for those who call? Lin Suling speaks to Porsche Poh, Executive Director of Silver Ribbon Singapore, and Tan Li Jen, Senior Principal Clinical Psychologist and Deputy Head of the National CARE Hotline at the Ministry of Social and Family Development.