Speech by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Health, at the Brahm Centre "Bend Not Break" Book Launch, 30 September 2016

Board Members of Brahm Centre,
Donors,
Parents,
Ladies and Gentlemen 

1.        Good Evening. I am pleased to be here to launch the book, ‘Bend Not Break – Learning From Loss’ . This book is written from the perspectives of a family member, and the best friend of a suicide victim.  It must have taken them immense courage to share their experiences in this book.  By putting their heartbreak and loss aside, they have shared their stories to help others to understand and experience healing after experiencing the loss of a loved one.  

Developing mental resilience 

2.        The loss of a loved one, particularly through suicide, is always tragic. While friends and family can offer help by spending time with the bereaved person, the overwhelming emotional pain and loss often takes a long time to go away, if at all. We may not have experience loss to the same devastating extent as those who shared their stories in this book. But, many of us will certainly have experienced stressful situations in our lives such as coping with the loss of a job or illness, anxieties and stresses related to our jobs and families, etc.

3.        Some of us cope well under such situations, but there are others who struggle to do so.  Building emotional resilience in our lives can help us in such difficult situations.  Resilience enables us to cope better with adversity, threats and even tragedies. It allows us to grow through difficult experiences, to develop problem solving skills, build meaningful interpersonal relationships and set realistic goals, all of which enable us to recover and lead fulfilling lives again.  

Government-led programmes to build mental resilience  

4.        Today, various governmental agencies have extensive programmes to build up mental resilience and also to help those with mental health issues.  The Education, Social and Family Development, and Health Ministries work closely together to develop interventions for high-risk individuals and educate the public on mental health issues. Mental health professionals also collaborate with community partners, such as school counsellors, general practitioners and social workers to deliver mental wellness promotion programmes for people of different ages - children, youth, working adults and the elderly.  

5.        Our schools teach relevant social and emotional skills and coping strategies as part of Character and Citizenship lessons. Students also experience, manage and overcome challenges through Co-Curricular Activities and Outdoor Education Programmes. Peer support is promoted in our schools, and students are taught to look out for one another and to seek help from trusted adults when they are in distress.  

6.        There are also community services available to support our youths. The Community Health Assessment Team, also known as CHAT, reaches out to youths above 16 years old and seeks to prevent the development of mental illness before symptoms become severe.  

7.        The Response, Early Intervention and Assessment in Community Mental Health (REACH) team provides training and support to schools, Family Service Centres and voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) to strengthen their ability to identify, manage and if necessary refer at-risk children with severe emotional and behavioural problems to the team for interventions.

8.        The Health Promotion Board (HPB) has also been conducting regular public education programmes to promote mental wellbeing among children, adults and seniors and help them better manage stress and cope effectively with work demands.

Ground-up initiatives necessary to complement government efforts 

9.        But the government cannot do this alone. A whole-of-society approach is required to help build mental resilience in our people and the voluntary sector has initiated many programmes such as direct intervention strategies to reach out to those at risk.  

10.        It is heartening to see ground-driven initiatives led by charities like Brahm Centre that promote the mental resilience and the wellbeing of the population. Over the last few years, Brahm Centre has been offering mindfulness courses to its members with the aim of improving both physical and mental health. 

11.        I understand that many participants, both young and old, have given positive feedback after attending these courses. For example, some reported that these courses have helped to calm them down when faced with trying life situations and relieve their stress.  Others shared that it has helped tone down their temper, and to think first before reacting. 

12.        I hope we will continue to work together to support one another, especially those who bear the heavy burden of loss in their lives.  As a community, we can become pillars of resilience for others to lean on, and help to strengthen them in the process. 

13.        With that, I am pleased to announce the launch of the book, and I wish everyone a refreshing evening.