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 of us.
This is what this year’s 9th Together Against Stigma (TAS) international conference wants to remind us—the importance of being a more inclusive society, and how each of us plays a part in supporting people with mental health conditions.
I was heartened to see like-minded individuals convene in the meaningful three-day long event to address issues from employment to social media, and how vital societal acceptance empowers one to lead a full, productive life.
The opening address by President Halimah Yacob, was particularly uplifting, as she spoke about mental health issues in Singapore, encouraging Singaporeans to come together as a community, challenging us to look beyond illness and to instead embrace communication and collaboration.
Following which, Professor Norman Sartorius of the World Psychiatric Association, gave a scintillating speech about how the stigma attached to mental illness is pernicious, and despite the advances in medicine, this stigma continues to grow, leading to devastating consequences for individuals and their families.
One thing that resonated with me was this: Words are loaded with power; they can lift moods, improve mental health, challenge yet inspire us in equal measure—that is the spirit behind The Tapestry Project. Writing is indeed great, giving one the sense of having processed an emotion. This online platform for personal stories gives persons-in-recovery, caregivers, and even professionals a voice to enunciate their deepest thoughts.
President Halimah visited our booth and spoke to Nicole about the project. She expressed her admiration, and concluded that it was a very brave thing to be so open and willing to share these stories in their authentic forms.
It was a humbling learning experience for me in learning more about how we could be more inclusive as a society.
Now it is with great certainty, I can agree that through more public empathy and understanding, people who live with mental health conditions can finally step out of the shadows and shackles of stigma, and be empowered by their own narratives.
Dawn is a writer and shares a passion in supporting meaningful causes, such as mental health.