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An interview with the author of ‘David’s Story’: Mary M.
Editor’s Note: We do our best to pair our book reviews together with author interviews so that our readers can have a fuller appreciation of the help resources in our community. We are very honoured and grateful to have Mary, the author of ‘David’s Story‘, share with us her personal story on loss and renewed hope. We…
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Highs + Lows: John’s Story
Editor’s Note: This story has a slightly different format from the usual. It is a two-part story reflects both sides of bipolar disorder, with its extreme highs and crashing lows. Step into John’s shoes for a while and understand what it was like for him back then. We are very encouraged to know he is in a better state today,…
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Book Review: Why? When Both My Parents Took Their Lives
By Yin This book is not explicitly about mental illness but is on a topic closely related–suicide. It therefore is not about the attempted suicide of someone suffering from depression. Rather, it is about a woman whose father committed suicide when his life as an invalid became too painful to endure.
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Book Review: Caught In The Storm–Knowing And Acting When Teens Need Help
by Mel Cheang and Dr Lim Yun Chin Caught in the Storm is a collection of stories about various mental health problems that teens face. They range from issues such as depression and eating disorders, to cutting and suicide. It is a rather sobering read as one wades through the myriad of problems young people…
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Make That Difference
By Nicole K. // The starfish story and some personal reflections for 2014. Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking…
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Making The Best of My Life: Sam’s Story
Editor’s Note: Our social interactions and significant relationships can contribute to our sense of self and self-worth. In Sam’s story, she shares what led to her suicide attempt and how she found peace today through owning her personal coping methods. Her story also highlights the need for mental health professionals to be more sensitive and empathetic, and to treat…
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How Mental Illness Lies
By Nicole K. // May is a special month for me (it also happens to be Mental Health Month) so I’ve decided to finally publish what took me 3 months to draft — my personal story on self-harm and suicide. It was a tough thing for me to relive, but I believe it’s important for others to understand how mental illness…
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Looking On: Angela’s Story
Editor’s Note: Amidst the pain of loneliness and stigma that often accompanies mental illness, our reader Angela found comfort in her artwork. A talented artist, Angela has graciously provided one of her pieces to accompany her story on surviving a difficult childhood and what it’s like living with depression today.
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Why I Hurt Myself: Kelly’s Story
Editor’s Note: You can only conquer what you confront, and you can only confront what you are able to identify. Kelly had the self-awareness to recognise she had a problem, and found the courage to confront it. Because she received non-judgemental support and care from her close friends, she was able to discover healthier ways…
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Depression: The Facts Beyond Sadness
By Nicole K. // “There are three things that people tend to confuse: depression, grief and sadness.” – Andrew Solomon, author of The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression There is a significant difference between clinical depression (a.k.a Major Depressive Disorder or Unipolar Depression), and the emotion of sadness. Grief and sadness are natural responses to negative…
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A Chance To Live: Amanda’s Story
Editor’s Note: Our reader, Amanda, battles with schizophrenia, and shares her experiences and what treatment was like. She urges others like her to seek help early. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Amanda. We are rooting for your success.