-
Making the Mundane Wonderful: The Power of Paper Cranes
Sofia details her journey in learning to make paper cranes. Although it didn’t seem like much at first, folding cranes helped her anxiety and depression. Read her story to learn how focusing on something tangible can alleviate negative thoughts and emotions.
-
A Journey to Self-Compassion: Felicity’s Story
Healing from sexual abuse in childhood can be a long journey. Felicia shares her courageous movement towards knowledge, self-compassion, and strength.
-
No Amount of Renaming is Going to End Stigma
By Claire // “The Institute of Mental Health” What comes to mind when you see those words? Also known as “IMH”, it is not the first name that’s been given to Singapore’s sole psychiatric hospital. Its first name, in 1841, was ‘The Insane Hospital’. That was followed by ‘The New Lunatic Asylum’ in 1887, ‘The…
-
Self-worth; self-love
By Iyan // The dictionary defines self-worth as a sense of one’s own value as a human being. In other words, what you think you’re worth. As with other types of assessments, the idea of sensing “worth” is subjective. After all, everyone is born unique and therefore what we deem as “worthy” differs from everyone…
-
Unpacking from Pain
Empathy is a powerful heart tool and the new relationships I’ve made are very precious. I learn everyday about empowerment and try to help my peers let go of shame, remember who they are, without and despite their illness, and walk their paths of recovery.
-
My Name is Melancholia
“Our scars do not permanently stain us. The surviving cracks are our badges of victory, the victory of having overcome.”
-
New Year, New You: Rachel’s Story
“I have come to accept that perfection is not an achievable goal and that it is our imperfections that make us special. That is not to say that we shouldn’t improve and reflect on our lives from time to time. I believe that ‘new year, new me’ does not ask for the complete reinvention of…
-
A Letter to my Younger Self
By Shannon // Dear Shannon, It’s been more than five years since your first panic attack. During this turbulent time, you have experienced your fair share of ups and downs, and here are four lessons I wish you had learnt earlier. It is totally fine to feel depressed, anxious, sad, or angry. These are normal…
-
Athletes Are People Too: Interview With an Athletic Counsellor
By Kelly Ng // We have often spoken about how incorporating physical activity in our daily routine can be beneficial for mental wellness. On the other hand, how do sporting professionals care for their mental fitness? The Tapestry Project hears from athletic counsellor and volunteer advisor for Safe Sports at Sports Singapore, Ms Sharon Teo,…
-
It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over
By Jeremy L. // *Content warning: this story mentions self-harm, suicide and suicidal ideation. If you’re in need of support, please get help here.* Many people knew me as strong, hardworking and determined. Until everything changed in late October 2018. It started with having difficulties falling asleep, to having negative thoughts and suicidal ideations, to…
-
Reflections from the Singapore Mental Health Conference 2021
By Q. Anuradha // On 24 and 25 August 2021, The Tapestry Project attended the 6th Singapore Mental Health Conference which was jointly organised by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), Health Promotion Board (HPB) and National Council of Social Service (NCSS). The conference featured international speakers who shared their best…
-
F.E.A.R.: Face Everyone And Recover – Thomas’ Story
By Thomas K. // The first ever emotion I remember at four was fear. I came from a dysfunctional family, and my father was physically abusive since I was young. I was unable to attend school regularly due to daily beatings. Even if I did go to school, I had no pocket money or school…
-
Peer Support & Solidarity: Celebrating Mental Health Resilience in Migrant Communities
By Kelly Ng // In 2015, Omar Faruque Shipon started the Facebook page Bangladeshi migrant workers in Singapore as a personal repository for stories of fellow migrants working far away from home. Five years on, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, his page has become a precious lifeline for the Bangladeshi community in Singapore,…
-
Dancing to the Beat of Depression and Anxiety: Q. Anuradha’s Story
By Q. Anuradha // I’m a dancer. Because my body is looking for cues to guide its movement, I pay more attention to the underlying beat in a piece of music than the average person. Music with a steady beat is easier to move to, the patterns easier to anticipate. But what happens when you…
-
The Struggle for Self-Compassion: Karen’s Story
By Karen Zainal // A few months ago, I turned 29. I’m embarrassed to admit that it bothered me a great deal. If you’re older than I am, I forgive you for rolling your eyes. As for those of you around my age, I hear your nervous chuckle! We often hear the assertion that age…