Hello.
“It’s okay not to be okay.” A good friend said that to me some years ago, when I was deep in the darkness of grief after my father died.
Her words came back to me this week, with World Mental Health Day coming up on Monday (Oct 10).
In Singapore, there has been increasing awareness around mental health issues, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, there is also still much stigma – a recent CNA survey found that 66 per cent of respondents in Singapore are concerned about the stigma around mental health.
More on-screen representation is commendable but it shouldn’t end up adding to stereotypes. Shows such as K-drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo tend to focus on the special talents of neurodivergent individuals. But saying we have “superpowers” does not erase our very real, everyday struggles, says CNA’s Grace Yeoh.
So this weekend, put your laptop away, and take a day or two for yourself. Growing older is enjoyable only if we remain active and take more time for things that matter, says Singapore Kindness Movement’s Dr William Wan.
And in case you were not aware, it’s the last few days of the Great Singapore Sale. Once a hotly anticipated affair, the GSS has met fierce competition from online shopping giants. But this does not mean it has to slide into irrelevance, say Nanyang Business School marketing professors.
We hope you enjoy the selection of commentaries this week.
Alison Jenner
Senior Editor, Commentary
.jpg?itok=fHkrjj4c "It's okay not to be okay 35")
