This post first appeared as an Instagram Guide.
2020 hasn’t turned out the way any of us planned it, but we’re glad there’s more attention on mental health throughout the year. Many of us were forced to face issues of our own, and that has pushed the need for open conversations with our friends, family, and people around us.
We’ve put together a small guide to some of our past work across our different platforms. There’s more than one way to start talking!
Providing Support To Those In Need
For World Mental Health Day, we spoke to Yi Ping from @chatfans, an organisation helping youth with mental health concerns.
Enjoying “good mental health” does not mean not experiencing mental health distress at all – More importantly, is knowing how to build our resilience and cope with these challenges.
Self‑Care through the Pandemic
When COVID‑19 first hit our shores, the inability to leave our houses and interact with those we loved became a huge hit to many. But it isn’t selfish to know that you need some self‑care every now and then.
You Are Not Alone
As 2020 comes to an end, it feels like the year keeps getting even more complicated, with national elections and international politics making the situation seem even more dire. But we should always remember that we aren’t alone, and that simple moments of connection are more important than ever.
Surviving a Mental Health Pandemic
COVID‑19 isn’t just a health crisis, mental health professionals also warned of a looming mental health crisis following prolonged periods of isolation and bad news in the media.
Our podcast, @somethingprivatepod, speaks to Dr Kamini Rajaratnam about building psychological resilience.
I Checked Myself into a Psychiatric Ward
With books like ‘Maybe You Should Talk to Someone’ (Lori Gottlieb) making headlines in 2020, the need for therapy and professional mental health support has come to the forefront of conversation.
@somethingprivatepod spoke to Belle, a healthcare professional that recognised she needed to seek help after moving back to Singapore.
Talking about… Eating Disorders
Read an inspiring poem written by Sarah Woo, who struggled with anorexia and bulimia for many years.
For those with eating disorders, weight loss efforts have severe consequences. Anorexia and bulimia are the two most common forms of eating disorders, and they are more common in females, it can also occur among males, and usually starts during adolescence or early adult life.
Also, to watch: Overcoming Eating Disorders | Can Ask Meh?
Talking about… Bipolar Disorder
Listen to some advice from Daren to his two sons, an artist who has been battling mental illness since he was 16 years old.
Individuals with bipolar disorder experience moods that swing between mania and dysphoria over distinct periods of time, making it difficult to carry out daily activities. It can be managed with medication and psychotherapy.
Talking about… Postpartum Depression
We see the rosy pictures of motherhood, but there is another side to it that not many people talk about. One in ten new mothers experience postpartum depression, and develops in the weeks after giving birth.
Caring for People with Mental Health Conditions
In our Can Ask Meh? series, we’ve spoken to those going through mental health conditions themselves, but this episode shone a spotlight on the everyday heroes – the caregivers.
Many caregivers experience varying levels of caregiver fatigue, but as one of our interviewees said, “When you’ve seen the best of someone, you just can’t walk away.”
Escaping anxiety in Pulau Ubin
Lastly, follow Uncle Ong as he catches crabs in Pulau Ubin. He reveals that the move to the island was fuelled partially by his anxiety, a reminder that mental illness can truly effect anyone among us.
This guide was made in collaboration with Instagram as part of their #Heartbits campaign.