Syimah Jasni’s Post

About a month ago, I was given the opportunity to be featured in one of Berita Harian articles (local Malay newspaper) to share a personal story on the topic of #mentalhealth struggles faced by youths in #Singapore. Not going to lie, I was pretty scared initially. The thought of exposing my vulnerabilities in public also meant that I had to be ready to share some of my darkest periods to people I may not even know. Unexpectedly, this article had brought other youths to my social media - some shared their personal encounters, while others expressed their opinions on topics like generational gaps. While it is unfortunate that we may remember hard lessons from the major incidents that have happened recently, these certainly allowed us to start somewhere and work on the gaps we have in our society. And that includes having more open conversations about the importance of mental health and mental well-being. In the article, I shared about how I had tasted my first “failure” during my first year of university. Instead of seeking help on my struggles, I continued pushing myself till I burnt out. Some of the signs that signaled high anxiety included drastic weight loss, trembling hands and being in that constant state of feeling "lost". At that point, I realized that I was never prepared or taught to face any mental health struggles as I did not know how to cope with these symptoms. It was a lonely, challenging process but it eventually made me a stronger person. Things started to change when I opened up to a trusted adult, Professor Chee-Kai Chin, a lecturer I frequently sought consultations from. He became a great mentor and provided me constant life advice which eventually helped me pick up motivation that I lost. Surprisingly coming from an academic himself, he reminded me that “Grades are not everything” and that there’s more to life – my strengths, my personal relationships and my happiness. He also told me to take one step a time, celebrate small wins and not be too hard on myself. Definitely #wisewords from the wise man!   Till date, I stood by these advices wherever I go. I sincerely hope that youths who are in, or have been in similar situations know that your mental health should be a priority and that you are not alone in this journey. No mental health struggle is considered too “small” to be addressed, just like how we still go to clinics when we catch a slight fever.  This personal encounter was also a strong reason to why I joined Project: It’ll Be Alright, a community group under the Mental Well-being Network(YMWN). Together, we hope to help vulnerable youths going through challenging moments, through relatable stories of hope and resilience. Special thanks to Fathin for covering my story. #mentalhealthawareness #suicideprevention #opportunity #awareness #motivation #community #singaporeyouths #mentalwellbeing https://lnkd.in/geD88GSC