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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…
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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.
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We are people first
“Accept us. Listen to us. Start thinking of us as people first, people with hurts, people who love, people who want to be loved, people who are the same as everyone else.”
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Together Against Stigma conference 2019
By Dawn W. // On 3-5 October 2019, like-minded individuals convened in a conference to discuss social stigma faced by persons with mental health conditions. As a bystander, it is convenient to cast people into stereotypes and reduce their narratives to that of mere self-pity; forgetting that they too, are just as human as anyone…
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World Mental Health Day 2019: Suicide Prevention
By Nicole K. // Whenever I read about suicide on social media, I am morbidly drawn to the comments section. Invariably, the comments consist mostly of condolences for the family; condemnation of the person who attempted suicide or died, saying they were selfish, weak and an inconvenience; and complaints that the government ought to have…
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“In Order To Become Well”: Reflections on Mental Health Festival 2018
By Joshua L. // In the heart of former Woodbridge Hospital on the 8th of September 2018, people from all over Singapore congregated for the same cause: mental health. Community partners, ambassadors, and members of the public gathered at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) to celebrate its 90th anniversary. To mark this momentous shift…
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The Struggle for Better Days: Vivien’s Story
By Vivien Y. // I had lost a visible amount of weight in a short amount of time and people said that I looked great. The truth was that at 22 and living through the tribulations of the final semester of university, I was incredibly depressed. I wasn’t eating, I couldn’t sleep, I was running…
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5 Ways to Develop Empathy, A Bedrock Social Skill
By Joy Hou // “I just get so angry when she says she will call and then doesn’t,” said Celine about her good friend. Her husband Dave responded, “Darling, it’s such as a small matter, why are you always getting upset about these trivial things?” Inevitably, Celine got even more frustrated, leading to another one…
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“Get Over It! What Is This ‘Depression’ Thing Anyway?”: Kevin’s Story
By Kevin W. // Depression is pain—a devastating, yet invisible pain. And so, unless it’s experienced firsthand, it’s hard to comprehend. Consider this analogy: Your brain is to you what a processor is to a computer—both carry out commands to enable healthy functioning. Depression is a virus—a vicious, nasty virus. As with how a virus corrupts…
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Living with Undiagnosed Mental Illness: Amanda’s Story
By Amanda // I am fearful of disappointing my family. Unlike most people who have an official mental health diagnosis, I do not have one. But I do struggle with mental health issues. I have lived with an eating disorder and anxiety for almost four years. Today, I am here to share my story as…
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Story: A Cautionary Tale
By Nicole K. // There were hardly any local, personal stories on mental illness and recovery when we first started. The few inspiring gems we found were largely in the form of print biography. Things are vastly different now with more cross-sectoral collaborations, accompanied by a groundswell of mental health initiatives, thanks to the steady…
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A Different Voice: Vanessa’s Story
By Vanessa // I would like people to become more aware of and accepting of mental illness. Living with mental illness isn’t easy. It is like having a monster that eats you from within. Except no one can see this monster, so no one believes you when you talk about it. I have been dealing…
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Returning to Work When You Have a Mental Health Condition
By Nicole K. // World Mental Health Day 2017 focuses on mental health in the workplace. Eleven months ago I left the world of freelancing and entered the corporate arena of office cubicles and staff passes, where the majority of “normal working people” resided. I was a part-timer who worked four out of five days…
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Boys Don’t Cry: Andrew’s Story
By Andrew Y. // I remember the night I surprised myself with my ability to cry. This was during my National Service. My mum was driving me back to camp and I started to tear while talking about how difficult NS was. It was at that point when I realised that I had a problem, and…
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Recovery is a Journey, Not a Destination: Sam’s Story
By Sam // To others, I appear a tough, strong, and independent girl: life’s hard knocks will not keep me down; I have a solid goal in life, a good career, and a partner. Little did I expect, I hit the rock bottom last April. It began when I felt lost all of a sudden.…
