Hence, in light of creating a society of inclusion for these mental health sufferers, the hidden and agonising stories of these individuals need to be told.
Seven in 10 persons with mental conditions experienced problems living with dignity due to discrimination and the negative attitudes of others, according to a recent study by National Council of Social Service (NCSS).
Although many dialogues and discussions with regard to mental issues have been ongoing in recent years, misperceptions and stigma still exist.
Often, the devastating struggles of those with mental conditions and the distressing pain felt by their caretakers and family members are still, to a great degree, neglected and underrepresented.
Hence, in light of creating a society of inclusion for these mental health sufferers, the hidden and agonising stories of these individuals need to be told.
Living with Schizophrenia
“I feel really inspired by how people responded with kindness.” – Michael Dote, a filmmaker, photographer and fencer who has battled with schizophrenia
One day, Evelyn (pseudonym) started hearing voices. She was suspicious of her neighbours, friends and relatives, and believed they were controlling and plotting harm against her. Her family advised her to consult a psychiatrist, but she was reluctant. She refused to admit that she was ‘crazy’ as, to her, paying a visit to the ‘mad people’ hospital was a disgrace.
Her mental condition stabilised for a while, but became worse a few years later, when suddenly, her mind became gripped with paranoia. In her befuddled state, she shouted and murmured to herself uncontrollably, even trying to kill herself. “A voice told me to,” she said.
Her family was overwhelmed by her erratic behaviour, and had no choice but to admit her to Institute of Mental Health (IMH), where she was being diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is a life-long chronic brain disorder that affects approximately one percent of the world’s population. Symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disorganised thoughts, ‘hearing voices’ and difficulty discerning between what is real and imaginary.
Today, Evelyn has managed to sustain her condition through medication, but faced with the stigma associated with schizophrenia, she did not come clean about her illness to most people.
According to a nationwide 2014 IMH ‘Mental Health Literacy’ study to evaluate people’s recognition of five common disorders, schizophrenia had the lowest recognition at 11.5%.
Like many others suffering from mental conditions, the pain inflicted goes beyond the afflicted patients, and extends to their loved ones.
Evelyn is unemployed, and has been living off her parents. She has been active in a futile job hunt as she cannot bear the thought of sponging off her parents.
To some extent, schizophrenia is like a death sentence – Evelyn’s medications caused her to gain weight and she normally sleeps through most of the day. The heartbreaking helplessness of watching Evelyn wasting away her time weighs heavily upon her family members.
Psychologists used to believe schizophrenia has no cure and the afflicted patient will have to deal with some symptoms for the rest of their lives.
But now, there is a progressive recognition that with comprehensive treatment, which includes individual therapy, family counselling, or life coaching, people with schizophrenia can learn to cope with the condition and live an independent and fulfilling life, said William Horan, Associate Research Psychologist at University of California–Los Angeles.
Michael Dote is a perfect example of an individual who triumphed over schizophrenia through treatment and determination. The photographer and fencer, who is making a documentary called ‘Unmasked: A bout with Schizophrenia’, told New York Epoch Times that having a mental condition is not a death sentence and “[you] can pursue your dreams and goals and passions and win”.
“One of my fears going into this was that people were going to ostracise me because I came out of the crazy closet,” Dote disclosed.
“I feel really inspired by how people responded with kindness,” he said.
Struggling With Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
“It is a long and sometimes very painful journey. People will come; many will go. But no matter how bleak it may seem, don’t give up on yourself,” said Chia Xun An, who was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) at the age of 10.
Before his mental condition struck, Xun An grew up much like most other kids his age, and particularly enjoyed drawing.
However, for some inexplicable reason, all of a sudden, he had issues sleeping at night, constantly had nightmares, and would sit and knock his head against the wall. This series of incoherent behaviours prompted his parents to refer him to a child psychiatrist.
His fight against MDD was followed by years of struggle against depressive episodes; his schooling was also marked by many bouts of absenteeism, he said.
“Life would revolve around struggling with the depressive symptoms, trying to recover, and relapsing repeatedly to complete my secondary school education. Growing up as a teenager took a backseat,” he shared.
He made his way through secondary school and into polytechnic, wanting to put the past behind him.
His symptoms seemed to have subsided until he was hit with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) during his last semester in polytechnic.
“The new diagnosis that followed marked the worst period of my life so far – I lost much of my day-to-day and cognitive functioning. The reactions and non-reactions of people around me leading up to my breakdown were truly painful, sometimes more so than that of my diagnosis,”he recalled.
He channelled his emotions into scribbling and drawing lines on paper as a coping mechanism, in the months after his mental breakdown.
“Those lines eventually morphed into a story, which resulted in ‘The Black Box’,” he said. ‘The Black Box’ is a pictorial storybook depicting the story of Penn, a penguin, which falls into depression, but recovers after seeking professional help.
“The original audience of the book was myself,” he said.
He courageously self-published 1,000 copies with his own savings and the seed money given by Ngee Ann Polytechnic, after some contemplation.
“It was a blind leap of faith; I never considered much, except that if the book could help others in some way, it was good enough for me,” he exclaimed.
Through ‘The Black Box’, Xun An wishes to convey the message of hope, that “even in darkness, there is light”.
This book was only the beginning.
Three years have now passed. His symptoms have stabilised and he has started sharing his journey with others, educating them about mental issues through his experiences.
He would like Singaporeans to see those with such conditions “as just dealing with a medical condition that is something beyond what one can bear alone, and that having such an issue does not indicate a personal weakness or failing”.
“Having kept my condition under wraps for many years, facing stigma in various aspects of my life, I wanted to seek meaning for what I had experienced, even if it meant jeopardising my future. I wanted to speak up,” he explained.
He encouraged those suffering with mental conditions not to be ashamed of seeking help and, most importantly, they should realise the fact that they are more than what they are afflicted with. “Knowing that is already a victory in itself,” he voiced.
“The community-at-large needs to be receptive, or at the very least, be willing to listen to the stories of mental health, empathise, and most importantly, acknowledge the struggles that these individuals face.” – Chia Xun An, who was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) at the age of 10
Ending the Stigma
“Most people are sympathetic,” said Xun An, but many do not wish to engage with individuals with mental conditions due to ambivalent feelings such as discomfort and fear.
As a matter of fact, some Singaporeans perceived them to be lazy, dangerous, unpredictable, and believe mental disorders are untreatable, said Porsche Poh, executive director of Silver Ribbon (Singapore), a non-profit organisation launched to combat mental health stigma.
Apart from stigma, another critical issue that calls for attention is the employment of these individuals.
As stated by IMH in the ‘Next Step’ 2011 publication, an estimated 70% of 60,000 persons with mental conditions in Singapore are unemployed.
“Gainful employment for this group not only just provides a financial remuneration, but also gives them a purpose and an identity beyond their condition, and in the long run, ultimately improves their quality of life,” opined Xun An.
The declaration clause in an employment application form brings a large shadow to the issue of employment discrimination against these individuals, he added.
That said, to dispel stigma surrounding mental health, awareness and education of such issues should start in school.
Beyond school, “the community-at-large needs to be receptive, or at the very least, be willing to listen to the stories of mental health, empathise, and most importantly, acknowledge the struggles that these individuals face,” he added.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could “embrace them and be mindful of our language”, “understand that they have to face a list of challenges including accepting their condition, managing side effects of their condition, securing a job” and “acknowledge that anyone could be stricken with mental health issues in their lifetime,” asserted Ms Poh.
If you are facing a mental health crisis, call the IMH Mental Health Helpline at 6389 2222 (24 hours). If you need or know of anyone who might need help, call the Singapore Association of Mental Health’s counselling helpline at 1800-283-7019 (Mon – Fri).
Family members experiencing high level of stress on management of mental conditions can sign up for courses and support from Caregivers Alliance Limited. Visit http://cal.org.sg/.
