Time to Care

Suicide prevention agency Samaritans of Singapore reported an increase of more than 22 percent in the number of calls attended to on their 24-hour hotline in March 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019².

Importance of Mental Health Awareness

Zalifah Ibrahim was in her early twenties when a family member attempted to take his own life. As far as she could see, there had been no warning signs.

Zalifah recalls, “As we had very little understanding about mental health, we dismissed it as a one-off thing. The topic seemed taboo, so we didn’t address it. When he quit one job after another, I thought he was just being lazy.”

It was only after the family member had a second massive breakdown that Zalifah had to rethink her attitude towards her loved one – and mental health, in general.

She signed up for Caregivers Alliance’s Caregivers-to-Caregivers (C2C) programme. What she had learned about mental health helped her understand her loved one as well as benefited her social circle.

“Being more aware of the symptoms of mental health issues opened my eyes, and I started to recognise them in my friends who are struggling with depression,” she said. “I was therefore able to use my newfound knowledge to help them as well.”

In the same way that we do not wait for an emergency to happen before attending a first aid course, preparing ourselves to be a caregiver is something all of us can do.

Mental health issues can be tricky to identify. It is often not until a crisis occurs that treatment is sought, and even then, many fail to seek treatment due to the social stigma surrounding them. Lack of information or lack of access to mental health services can also hinder treatment.

By improving literacy around mental health issues and treatment, we are better able to recognise the early signs in those around us, and encourage them to seek treatment quickly, which can greatly improve their chances of recovery.

Caregivers often find themselves plunged into a whirlwind of struggles in taking care of a loved one with a mental health condition, from keeping up with day-to-day responsibilities, navigating schedules, to medication and doctor appointments.

During the Circuit Breaker period last year, Caregivers Alliance Limited (CAL) received many calls on the hotlines from people who were at their wits’ end. One call came from a distraught mother whose daughter had tried to take her own life two days before. Another from a man alone at home with his wife, diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, who was getting aggressive from being cooped up.

Caregivers can be very vulnerable to burnout and depression. Being prepared means we are equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge when the situation calls for it.

Self-Care for Caregivers

When Alvyna Han was diagnosed with depression in August 2015 after a traumatic event, she spiralled into a pattern of self-destructive and self- harming behaviour, which continued for almost two years. In 2017, on her best friend’s recommendation, she signed up for a course at CAL as a caregiver to herself.

“Instead of relying on others, I decided that I should, firstly, take care of myself,” she said.

Inspired by a documentary and what she had learnt, she signed up as a volunteer in the hope that her experience could help others. Alvyna is now a full-time programme manager with CAL.

Caring about our mental health should be no different from caring about our physical health. When we are ill or if something hurts, we visit a doctor. Mental health should be treated the same way.

Self-care goes beyond pampering massages and soaking in the bath. It means taking the time to ensure we live well and improve our physical, mental and emotional health.

In these challenging and uncertain times, we don’t need to act like everything is okay, because it isn’t. There are many resources available. Whether you are already a caregiver, or know of someone who is struggling, do extend a hand and remind them that there is no shame in reaching out for help.