Mental Health Is Equally Important

 

Today is World Mental Health Day. If you asked me two years ago, if I would have thought that I would face a mental drain this year, I would say no. But like what the title of a James Bond movie, “Never Say Never Again”, it taught me that mental health is equally important as physical health. Like what a long time ICQ/Blogger recruitment consultant friend shared with me before I started this job recently, “Take a break before you start, do not rush into it.” I am glad I took the advice and am thankful for having an understanding boss, who took me in when I was at the lowest point of my career and gave me the free hand to manage the work portfolio, thus helping me regain my confidence and faith in myself. To this, I am really thankful to my colleagues, who made me feel welcome and really assisted me when I needed it.

Some of you may wonder how I managed to overcome this dark 6 months of my life. It is fortunate that I have kept my singing lessons active and my ktv interest group active. If I did not divert my attention to here, I guess I would have ended in IMH and not working in such a positive environment now. I am also thankful to a few of my ktv mates and friends for their listening ears. You know who you are.

Another thing that kept me going was doing volunteer work. It helped me divert my attention to the less fortunate. Despite being physically challenged, I volunteered my skills to assist people to file their taxes and visited seniors to encourage them to take up vaccination.

Finally, I was fortunate to be attached to my religious group leader, who encouraged me to listen to Buddhist teachings and attend religious meetings.

Some people are not so lucky as me, having no one to talk to, and just feel their way through the darkness that they are in. My message to them is “You are not alone, find someone to talk to when you need it, do not keep it to yourself."