From within to reaching out: Soo Jun’s efforts in destigmatising mental health and counselling in Singapore

“There are times that all you need is someone who will listen to you without judging you” - Bernard Kelvin Clive

Having been in a rough place before, Soo Jun wanted to reach out to others to help make them feel heard. He wanted to let people know they are not alone and to give them a chance to express themselves without the fear of being judged. It is this desire that led him to the Mental Health Cluster in Youth Corps Singapore.

Communication plays a significant role in this and it is something that we learn as we navigate through our lives. Soo Jun is aware that he may not be able to relate to everyone who needs a listening ear. Nonetheless, he can be there for them so that they know there is someone who will? listen and care about them. “It's about being there and opening yourself up to people, don't doubt that first step because it's a big one,” he says.

Undoubtedly, it is not without challenges. Soo Jun shares that one crucial thing to note is knowing and setting boundaries in order to recognise when you feel uncomfortable as well as learning to say ‘no’. Some cases require more attention when they have more aggressive intentions and this will need to be highlighted to his leaders whilst not breaching the trust that has been established. He also believes that it is important to be tactful because people are sharing sensitive things and if he does not feel like he can relate to their situations, he would ask them how they are feeling and clarify matters in a non-probing manner.

Soo Jun feels fulfilled when his friends who need help take his advice to go for counselling sessions and benefit from them. Soo Jun’s efforts towards destigmatizing getting help and counselling play a role in someone’s life as the sessions equip them with skills to handle their struggles better. It is not only applicable to his friends and peers but also to himself. Soo Jun comments, “When I learn how to deal with different aspects through the programmes shared and apply that in different areas, that keeps me going. To know what I'm learning is useful.”