Category: Mental Health in SingaporePage 1 of 3
While strides have been made to improve public perceptions of mental illnesses, conditions like depression and extreme anxiety are still, for the most part, considered taboo and not openly discussed.
In our fight to help remove the stigma associated with mental health conditions, we present stories of brave men and women who openly talk about their struggles with mental health.
We hope these interviews remind you that you’re not alone. We also hope that these men and women encourage you to seek help or speak with someone you trust if you’re silently battling with depression, anxiety or other mental illnesses.
People of Legends | “I think boxing has helped me manage my ADHD because it forces me to concentrate and stay calm, which is something I am still working on improving, given that my mind often goes into overdrive.”
“I started experiencing anxiety and depression when I was 10-years-old. Being the only Malay girl in Chinese Dance, I was bullied a lot in school. Although I was accepted by my friends and teachers in the CCA, I was ostracised by people of my own race.”
People of Legends | Legend’s new kid on the block talks about how her visit to Perth inspired a new outlook on life.
“My biggest fear is dying and not having tried, and I have a lot of visions that I want to make a reality. At the same time, I am afraid of putting myself out there because there’s always a fear of failure. But I’d rather fail now than not try at all.’
“So it always comes back to the same question of ‘Are you happy?’ And what does it even mean to be happy? Does it even matter? Because it’s really hard to be happy in Singapore. There are so many expectations and it’s all very heartbreaking.”
“The worst thing I feared came true when I left the company. I was accused of stealing clients’ money. Debt collectors started chasing me and I started receiving death threats from the company’s clients…”
“A lot of people fail to understand that most of the time, the situation these parents are in is not a matter of choice for them. They are in survival mode. It’s not that they don’t have initiative or don’t want the best for their kids. They’re just trying their best to make ends meet.”
People of Legends | “In the ring, you’re by yourself. You may get punched or knocked down, and regardless of whether you win or lose, you gotta stand up and keep going. That’s how things go in real life.”
“I do not condone violence towards women, and I understand why the online community reacted the way they did. But, people do not know the full story, and it’s not their business to know any more than what I – or anyone involved – would like to share.”
“During those two years, he was sober for only six months. Yet everyday, being sober was a mental battle for him, and I wasn’t aware of it. Whenever he was on edge and I triggered him, it took everything within him to restrain himself from drinking his problems away.”
The Prudent People | “People always say that they don’t have time to pursue something, but that’s just an excuse. To live life without accomplishments feels like you’re not living at all. If you want to do something that makes you fulfilled, do it. Go do it while you still have the time.”
“I knew that if I had shut down the business, there would be nothing left except to look back in regret. I would forever link the business to the death of my son. That cannot be the case. That cannot be the way I remember my son.”
“So to all the aspiring dreamers out there, just believe in yourself. There will be external forces saying you’re no good or that you’re lousy, but if you don’t believe in yourself, nobody else will. And if you want to achieve anything in life, you have to fight for it.”
“I started in sports therapy earning less than $50 a month. I was exploited and went through depression and faced so many challenges…but I have a successful career now and I go to work happy to see my clients and loving what I do.”
“If I have any advice for other caretakers, it’s to learn to have empathy and compassion for yourself. I think many times we think that we can do better and must do better. But we are human and there is only so much you can do for yourself and your loved ones.”
“For the past 28 years, I’ve felt like a foreigner in a country that I call home. This feeling is very strong when I fill up documents that ask for my identity. Where were you born? What is your citizenship? When faced with such questions, I always question where I belong.”
In our very first episode of A Singapore Story, we find out from non-profit ‘Hey, You Got Mail!’ why it was important for them to send personalised, handwritten letters to the elderly in Singapore’s nursing homes.
Inspiring Creatives of Workbuddy | “I’m 40 this year and I’m pleased to tell people I’m 40 because at 33, I was diagnosed with cancer…”
“We believe that nothing can recreate the feelings of warmth when one holds a personalised handwritten card. We want to share that warmth with the seniors…”
People of Legends | “When I was in prison, my counsellor told me that since I like to fight so much, why not fight in the ring instead? He told me I was smart but I was letting my friends control me. I can think for myself; don’t be their puppet. I took his advice to heart.”