Alumni and parent support groups (PSG) should also consider stepping up to make mental health literacy an explicit priority for their members and bring in community partners to provide more mental health learning opportunities for students.
Last month, I was invited by the PSG of a neighbourhood school in Tampines to share my personal mental health journey and practices with their primary six cohort. It was heartening to see the 12-year-olds try their best to practise sitting still and breathing as I invited them to imagine “smelling your favourite flower” (inhale) and “gently blowing your birthday candle” (exhale).
After that, one student asked anonymously if they were crazy to feel so stressed out and anxious in the preparation for PSLE.
“No, you are not crazy – you are just human and only 12 years old”, was my empathic response.
Franklin Roosevelt famously said: “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future”. Adolescence is a unique and formative time. Building a sense of self and meaning is important for the well-being of our young people.
Beyond peer support networks and CCE lessons, how much more and how urgently we invest in mental health education in families, schools and communities for our children speaks volume of our priorities for the future, and the kind of society we will become.
Let’s make every school a good well-being-promoting school.
Where to get help:
Samaritans of Singapore Hotline: 1767
Institute of Mental Health’s Helpline: 6389 2222
Singapore Association for Mental Health Helpline: 1800 283 7019
You can also find a list of international helplines here. If someone you know is at immediate risk, call 24-hour emergency medical services.
Anthea Ong is a former Nominated Member of Parliament, professional certified coach, leadership speaker and social entrepreneur (SG Mental Health Matters, A Good Space Co-operative, Hush TeaBar). She is also Chairperson of WorkWell Leaders, a Singapore-based charity focused on mental well-being as a leadership priority.