Erasing the Stigma

Mental health is considered a taboo topic in Singapore, but it deserves more visibility due to the rising youth suicide rates. Find out about the Movement that strives to tackle the stigma of mental illness.

To first understand mental health, you have to talk about it.

The Singapore Mental Health Study (SMHS) stated that youths aged 18 to 34 are more likely to develop a mental illness due to pivotal changes they face at that point in their lives, such as peer pressure, puberty, and factors in their home life.

Unfortunately, many do not know what they are going through and will not seek help for their declining mental health. This ultimately leads to an increase to suicide, the leading cause of death for youths in Singapore.

Suicide Rate Rising in Singapore

According to the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), the only agency providing a 24-hour helpline, suicide rates have risen by 10% since last year.

With 391 cases reported, the number of people who died from suicide is 2.8 times more than those who died in transport accidents. SOS has even deemed this as a 'significant societal concern'. This has led to the inevitable question: How can we prevent it?

PleaseStay Movement

On 29 October 2019, the PleaseStay Movement was launched by mothers who lost their children to suicide. It aims to raise awareness on youth suicide and spur those who are struggling with their mental health to seek help.

They are under the umbrella of Child Bereavement Support Singapore (CBSS).

Their message to youths is: “Please stay. Hold on to hope. No one should be lost to suicide. Your life is precious. Reach out for help.”

The movement aims to integrate agencies together to tackle the stigma of mental illness, and make feasible changes in society, wherever they can. They believe that, through integrated continuous effort, they can increase the public’s awareness about mental health.

The mothers have reached out to the Ministry of Education (MOE), suggesting an increase in the number of counsellors and mental health check-ups for schools as a way to encourage students to seek help.

Lost a Child to Suicide

Doreen Kho, 44, one of the founders of the PleaseStay Movement, lost her son, Evan Low, to suicide when he was just 11 years old.

Before his death, he suffered from Asperger’s syndrome and depression. He shared negative thoughts with his sister, and told her to not involve their mother, as she was also going through a tough time.

Even though Doreen did not give her son pressure to achieve good grades, he felt pressured to achieve good grades just like his peers.

After his death, a friend messaged him on Facebook, saying that they should have known when they saw him crying after receiving his results.

Raising Awareness

For Doreen, creating the PleaseStay Movement ensured that Evan’s death was not in vain. She found purpose in helping to raise awareness of mental health in society, and potentially saving lives.

However, it can be a double-edged sword. She has to tap into her pain and her personal experiences to offer help.

But that does not stop her and the other mothers from their drive to bring about a society that does not ostracize people due to their mental illness.

The issue of mental illness is that it is not visible to the eye. Society still needs to open its eyes to people suffering from mental illness, as no one is going to seek help until they feel safe to do so.

“Every single one of us has the potential to have a mental illness,” Doreen quotes, “there is no way of preventing it from happening to anyone.”

Once society is able to open its eyes to that realization, there will be less stigma surrounding this topic. More people will be willing to seek help for their mental health issues.

When we erase the stigma, more lives will be saved.

If you or any of your loved ones want to seek help, please contact the helplines below:

Samaritans of Singapore: 1800-221-4444

Singapore Association For Mental Health: 1800-283-7019

Institute of Mental Health Helpline: 6389 2222