Why did you start this organisation?

I have deep-seated fondness for stories and the literary arts, and believe that our “words create worlds” – a phrase often attributed to Jewish theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel.

I started The Tapestry Project SG back in 2014, but this idea of sharing personal lived experience stories was seeded way back in 2006 when I was first diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety disorder. It took me a while before finding the right help. It was a long and winding road to recovery.

In that journey, I experienced a sense of isolation that was exacerbated by the fact that society does not fully grasp, and to some extent, accept what mental health struggles are about. I didn’t want anyone else to feel as alone as I once did, and I wanted to use my personal lived experience to shortcut that process of recovery for others.

Because writing was always there for me, I turned journaling to cope with that sense of isolation. Through that process, I found some level of catharsis and insight. I also realized that by giving words to my struggles, I was able to regain a sense of personal agency and reclaim the parts of my identity lost to illness. Going through therapy and being on medication also helped tremendously with this process of recovery.

There were many other significant moments that led to me setting up The Tapestry Project SG, but the heart of it is to use the power of story to empower people to give voice to their own struggles and use that for mental health awareness and education. This is why our organization is run by people with lived experiences.

We all have a story to tell, and my hope is that these diverse interweaving stories might create a world of inclusivity and empathy.

What setback(s) have you experienced and how did you cope / overcome?

One of the setbacks was convincing people that having a mental health condition does not disqualify us from doing well, that our experiences are assets, not liabilities.

Share with us some memorable experiences you have had throughout this journey?

So many! Accolades and awards aside, I would say a lot of my favourite moments are centered on meeting people from our talks, workshops, and especially working with our volunteers. I think I’m really blessed to have a wonderful team that understands what its like to struggle and be a work in progress.

Why do you think it is important to help youths aged 15-17 years old?

In Singapore, 15-17 is the age of transition where students are usually streamed into respective Secondary 3 classes. The same applies for 17-year-olds who have either completed their O levels, or are about to take N levels. The ones who have completed O levels would be at different educational environments (JC, poly, ITE, workplace attachments) which create a significant amount of transitional stress. In addition, youths in this age range would have to deal with physiological changes while grappling with questions on identity, self-worth and future goals. Imagine needing to make a choice whether to go Arts or Science stream when you don’t even know the road ahead, nor have the emotional capacity or coping skills to deal with all these life-determining choices at that age. So my heart really goes out to the youth.

What would you say to someone who is struggling now?

Whether we are diagnosed or not, we are all works-in-progress, and it’s okay to acknowledge that. Strive for progress and celebrate your successes, no matter how small or insignificant.

What do you believe would help these youths the most?

I think having family members who educated on mental health issues would take the burden off the youth needing to explain and prove to adults that they genuinely need help. It is important for family members to validate a young person’s struggles, listen patiently and without judgement. Sometimes youths may not have the vocabulary or ability to articulate their struggles, or know where to get help, so adults around them like family members, teachers, counsellors all play a part in creating that safe space for them to be heard. How we respond, the way we communicate kindness and empathy can make a huge difference in a young person’s life.

If you can change something / do something to help youths thrive, especially those who are struggling today, what would you do?

I have faith that youths are perfectly capable of thriving on their own and at their own time when given the right conditions, like how trees grow and flourish. Those of us that support them can help create these conditions by giving young people the space and opportunity to share their thoughts, and more importantly, involve them in discussions related to them such that we don’t talk around them about them.

What does thriving mean to you?

I think having family members who educated on mental health issues would take the burden off the youth needing to explain and prove to adults that they genuinely need help. It is important for family members to validate a young person’s struggles, listen patiently and without judgement. Sometimes youths may not have the vocabulary or ability to articulate their struggles, or know where to get help, so adults around them like family members, teachers, counsellors all play a part in creating that safe space for them to be heard. How we respond, the way we communicate kindness and empathy can make a huge difference in a young person’s life.