Another Week Beyond – 2241

Dear friends,

Last Monday, 10 October 2022 was World Mental Health Day. The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes mental health as a “basic human right. And it is crucial to personal, community and socio-economic development.” WHO elaborates that it is not just the absence of mental disorders, but good mental health is having a state of mind where we cope well with the stresses of life, learn and work well, and contribute to community. Importantly, mental health is not just determined by psychological and biological factors but by a “complex interplay of individual, social and structural stresses and vulnerabilities.”

A teacher at our child development centre was moved after listening a mother’s heartfelt sharing. Our colleague approached this mother to discuss her child’s progress in school but soon found herself gaining an appreciation of mother’s challenges. Mother shared that she had been under tremendous mental strain the past 18 months and only plucked up enough courage recently to speak with a mental health therapist. The positive experience at therapy has given her the confidence to confide in others and our colleague was someone she trusted.

Mother explained that she was most uncomfortable with the uninvited and unwelcome attention from a male colleague, but no one at work acted on her complaints. When she spoke to her husband about it, they decided that she should hold on to the job until she could find another that paid her just as well if not better. That was not to be and not long after she was unable to cope with the workplace environment and left without having another job.

Hence, there were frequent disagreements about finances which she accepted but found it difficult to cope when the disagreements led to fights about parenting styles, household responsibilities and the quality of their relationship. She experienced a sense of worthlessness which was exacerbated when her husband responded to her suggestion for marriage counselling by staying away from home. A month ago, as she was in much pain and feeling like it was the lowest point in her life, her children noticed and asked if mommy was sick. Their gesture of concern jolted her to seek help the following day. She reckoned her children gave her the courage and strength to pick up the pieces of herself that feels broken.

When we reflected on the mother’s story, we were saddened that she attempted to hang on to a job despite feeling traumatised because her family needed the income. It appeared that this decision strained her marriage in ways she could not cope. Seeking support early from people she trusted may have prevented her mental health from deteriorating.   

Social support is an important preventive factor, and we were heartened that youth in our HeadStrong programme recognise this. At the least session, they articulated the dreams they had for their personal wellbeing and this was how one of them eloquently put it, “My dream is that when I end up spiralling back into a mentally unhealthy state, I will know where and who I can go for support. I dream that I will always have someone to share my stories with because they help me understand myself better, and I will always do the same for others, to hear their stories and to understand them. I dream that we never forget that all of us deserve love and are loved, and we will never stop loving others.”

For peace, community, and love,

Gerard

PAST AWB POSTS

2502 – Community wasn’t built in a day

Written by Shariffah, Community Worker What is community? This is a question that shapes much of what we do at Beyond. Building a thriving community isn’t just about solving problems or organizing activities — it’s about creating spaces where people can connect meaningfully, share ideas, and take ownership of their collective future. Community development often begins with small, intentional steps. Our “Community Day” is one such step. This isn’t just a celebration, but part of a process — a chance for residents to collaborate, discover their strengths, and build something meaningful together. Our last Community Day of 2024 was held

Read More »

2452 – A Fire, A Friend, A Community

When a fire broke out in a Jalan Bukit Merah flat last year, the damage wasn’t confined to just the one unit. Smoke engulfed neighbouring homes, leaving behind physical damage and disruption. One of the worst affected residents was Madam Tan*, an elderly woman whose flat directly above the burning apartment. While her story didn’t make the headlines, her struggles were very real. She clearly needed help. This is where H comes in. The 28-year-old coach and former educator was no stranger to helping others, but this experience would touch him on a personal level. “I didn’t initially think about

Read More »

2451 – The Grace to Give

I joined Beyond in 2005 as a community worker reaching out to children under 6 years old to get them registered for early childhood education and after a couple of years, I was seconded to support our main grant maker. After which, I left social services but rejoined Beyond in 2016.  I came back and rejoined the sector to meet my needs for meaning, connection and well-being. Last Friday, I was supporting a corporate volunteer group to distribute care packs comprising necessities for the new school year to children in a neighbourhood where we work. This group engaged youth from

Read More »

AWB 2449 – When LIFE Happens

Nelson Mandela famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” We at Beyond, wholeheartedly believe this. So we’ve made it one of our missions to bring education to life for the kids in the neighbourhoods we serve. So, it is no coincidence that we call one of our education programme, LIFE! or Learning is Fun and Exciting! LIFE is a child-centric initiative that’s designed to make learning enjoyable and meaningful. Activities are tailored to children’s individual strengths, interests, and learning styles. At every turn, we nurture them to become independent, self-motivated learners. We

Read More »

2450 – Change Happens When A Ripple Becomes A Wave

Fahmidah, a 19-year-old active volunteer from Lengkok Bahru, recently stepped out of her comfort zone and joined her friends as a community guide for a Learning Journey organised by Beyond in collaboration with ImpactSG. This initiative connects members of ImpactSG with families living in public rental housing, who lead guided tours of their neighbourhood, offering a glimpse into their daily lives, challenges and strengths that define their community. These interactions foster mutual respect, deeper understanding, and an appreciation for the resilience and spirit within these communities. Before the event, Beyond worked closely with Fahmidah and several of her neighbours, preparing

Read More »

2448 – Caring Through Sport

Written by Hani & Shariffah, Community Workers When we received an invitation from SportCares to participate in a Sepak Takraw Tournament, we were hesitant to accept. It was only a week away and we were not sure if we could rally enough interest among our youth members in the different neighbourhoods.  Nonetheless, we put the word out and within the day, we realised that our anxiety was unnecessary. Regus or Teams from different neigbourhoods started registering with us which affirmed our belief in the strength of people’s ability to self-organise around their interest and aspirations. These young people loved the

Read More »

2447 – The Accidental Pianist

Shariff was only 10 when he was first mesmerised by the piano. A schoolmate was performing at a school event.  Something clicked for the 10-year-old that day – he had stumbled upon what was to become a passion. He found a very basic, beat-up keyboard at home, and began teaching himself to play. His instructors were YouTube videos. This year, Shariff was one of several children who attended a day camp organized by Genie in a Bottle, a volunteer group that picked Beyond as their charity of choice for YMCA’s Youth For Causes (YFC) programme. This initiative encourages youth to

Read More »

2446 – Brownie Points of the Heart

Story Contributed by Swathi, Community Worker In Ghim Moh, Angie was known for her many gifts – a talented chef, baker, seamstress, and a nurturing grandmother. Through Beyond’s Sew Can We and Bakers Beyond programmes, which provide seasonal income through sewing and baking projects, Angie applied her skills to create items that held meaning for her community. But as cancer began to reshape her life, hospital stays and treatments became part of her routine, pulling her away from her daily comforts. Despite her illness, Angie’s spirit remained intact, resilient and unyielding. During a recent hospital stay, some nurses encouraged her

Read More »

PAST AWB POSTS

2502 – Community wasn’t built in a day

Written by Shariffah, Community Worker What is community? This is a question that shapes much of what we do at Beyond. Building a thriving community isn’t just about solving problems or organizing activities — it’s about creating spaces where people can connect meaningfully, share ideas, and take ownership of their collective future. Community development often begins with small, intentional steps. Our “Community Day” is one such step. This isn’t just a celebration, but part of a process — a chance for residents to collaborate, discover their strengths, and build something meaningful together. Our last Community Day of 2024 was held

Read more >

2452 – A Fire, A Friend, A Community

When a fire broke out in a Jalan Bukit Merah flat last year, the damage wasn’t confined to just the one unit. Smoke engulfed neighbouring homes, leaving behind physical damage and disruption. One of the worst affected residents was Madam Tan*, an elderly woman whose flat directly above the burning apartment. While her story didn’t make the headlines, her struggles were very real. She clearly needed help. This is where H comes in. The 28-year-old coach and former educator was no stranger to helping others, but this experience would touch him on a personal level. “I didn’t initially think about

Read more >

2451 – The Grace to Give

I joined Beyond in 2005 as a community worker reaching out to children under 6 years old to get them registered for early childhood education and after a couple of years, I was seconded to support our main grant maker. After which, I left social services but rejoined Beyond in 2016.  I came back and rejoined the sector to meet my needs for meaning, connection and well-being. Last Friday, I was supporting a corporate volunteer group to distribute care packs comprising necessities for the new school year to children in a neighbourhood where we work. This group engaged youth from

Read more >