Peer Helpers Learning Journey to Samaritans Of Singapore 2019

On 11 June 2019, the Raffles Peer Helpers had the privilege of visiting Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), ChatHub@Scape and SAMH Creative Say! as part of our MEP curriculum. A week into the June holidays, the peer helpers turned up with much enthusiasm and excitement, ready to see new insights into the current mental health landscape of Singapore.

The day started off with an engaging yet solemn presentation at Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), where a staff shared about the current suicide situation in Singapore. 397. That is number of lives lost to suicide in 2018. Being the leading cause of death of those aged 10-29, there are 2.8 times more deaths from suicide than than transport accidents in 2018. Males account for more than 71% of all suicides in 2018, as they are less likely to voice out any struggle due to the society’s expectations, the staff explained. The damage that suicide brings does not stop at one person. In fact, for every suicide, at least 6 suicide survivors are left behind, and it can take up to years or even their whole life before these suicide survivors can recover from it. The staff also shared about the risk factors of suicide, which includes previous attempts or family history of suicide, mental health conditions, distressing life events, prolonged stress factors or so on.

They also shared about the various campaign efforts to reach out and raise awareness about suicide, from the hashtag movement “#ThroughTheNight” to HOWRU, SOS is really out there to help anyone with the need, as long as they reach out. The volunteers have all gone through at least a year of intensive training, and are really out there to help, even on special occasions such as New Year’s Eve. If you ever need any help or know someone who does, please do not hesitate to reach out at the 24-hour anonymous SOS hotline 1800-221 4444. Give yourself a chance, and give the world a chance. The Peer Helpers are also more than willing to help you, and you can approach us at My Rest Space during the operating hours, or just reach out to any of your friends in PHP.

After that, the peer helpers followed the teachers to CHAT, Community Health Assessment Team, located at level 5 of Scape. With the aim of Assess, Access and Awareness, CHAT offers confidential and personalised mental health checks for young persons between 16 and 30 years old, and thereafter recommend resources to suit their needs. CHAT is furnished with colourful chairs and couches, offering a warm and cozy environment. It is also a place for anyone to speak with the friendly youth support worker.

CHAT provides a very well maintained online help service, Web CHAT, where anybody can text when they need someone to talk to and receive a response from one of the staff. One can build a trusting relationship online before being guided towards face to face sessions at Chat Hub when he or she feels comfortable. It is even arranged such that you can meet with the same person you talked to. The CHAT youth support workers are online between Tuesdays to Saturdays, 12pm to 9pm (excluding public holidays) and can be contacted at 64936500 / 64936501. Head down to their website for more information: https://www.chat.mentalhealth.sg Besides the Web CHAT, you can also reach out to CHAT by making appointments, calling in, via Facebook or the online system.

As the sharing came to an end, the peers helpers got a chance to explore the youth-friendly setting of CHAT for a while, with many peer helpers picking up brochures and books on mental health that are on display.

After a hearty lunch, the peer helpers headed towards the last destination of the day: SAMH Creative Say! The friendly staff there first welcomed us with a guided tour around the well decorated and homey space, and proceeded to give a short presentation on the mental health situation among youths in Singapore.

The peer helpers than broke into smaller groups to engage in a guided conversation, in the form of a card game, where there are prompt cards of varying levels of question, to guide the participants in discussing mental health in Singapore. A set of the cards can also be found at My Rest Space, so feel free to also engage in a meaningful conversation with your friends during MRS operating hours!

It’s 6.00pm, and all good things must come to an end. Carrying their new knowledge with them, the peer helpers boarded the bus back to school, more ready to provide support for their peers.

Yang Wanshen

Raffles Peer Helper 2019