CNA Investigates: More cases of 'hidden adults' in Singapore emerging

Social workers in Singapore are seeing a rise in adults retreating from public life. Unlike hidden youths escaping school stress, these are individuals in their 20s, 30s and 40s stepping back from employment, relationships, and everyday responsibilities. Some have remained confined to their bedrooms for months, or even years. While the full scale remains unknown, one social service agency reports that enquiries about isolated individuals have more than doubled since 2022.  CNA’s Alif Amsyar investigates what drives working-age adults into self-imposed exile and what it takes for social workers and families to break through.