Post Event Update
The recorded session is also available on our YouTube Channel.
In a survey involving 3,336 young people in Singapore aged 11 to 18*, one in three reported internalising mental health symptoms such as sadness, anxiety and loneliness. Why are these youths experiencing mental health conditions at such a tender age? Don’t miss this chance to learn more about the challenges facing youths, and to learn how we can all play a role in supporting them.
Join mental health advocate Jedaiah Chen as he shares the unique challenges facing today’s youths in their personal and social lives. Caregiver Alex Cheong and person-in-recovery Sirin Yeoh join him to share their perspectives and lived experiences in an engaging panel discussion.
This event is part of CAL’s continuous efforts to help caregivers and caregivers-to-be achieve higher levels of well-being and resilience, supplementing what is taught at our Caregivers-to-Caregivers Programme. * Preliminary findings from the Singapore Youth Epidemiology and Resilience Study
About Our Panellists and Moderator
Jedaiah Chen
Jedaiah is the Founder and CEO of I'm Friendly Co, a mental health tech start-up dedicated to creating a world where the hurt are heard. A creative soul with a heart for people, he and his team work tirelessly to redefine peer support, culture and community. They have since launched a web application to the public supporting youths and young working adults with anonymous text-based peer support, creating an approachable space for authenticity, vulnerability, and recovery.
Alex Cheong
Together with his wife Yoke Choo, Alex cares for his son with anxiety disorder and selective mutism. In March 2022, they attended CAL’s C2C training programme and found support and hope from fellow caregivers who are going through similar caregiving experiences. For Alex, the C2C programme has been "life-changing" for him and his family.
Now, he advocates for mental health awareness and education, and the importance of seeking help. Alex believes that everyone deserves to live a happy and healthy life, regardless of their mental health condition. He is committed to helping others find the support they need to overcome challenges and live their best lives.
Sirin Yeoh
Sirin first knew about CAL in 2021 when she took part in the C2C Training Programme. She was a caregiver to her sibling on the autism spectrum. Herself a person in recovery, she now helps others by sharing her lived experiences with bipolar type II and ADHD at programmes conducted by CAL and other organisations focused on raising mental health awareness.
Sirin's personal experiences as a caregiver and a person in recovery have inspired her to make a career switch to the social service sector. Sirin hopes to share insights into the challenges faced by youths and families affected by mental health conditions. She believes in the importance of continuous education on mental health, and the power of open dialogue to inform and motivate others. She is a strong advocate for mental health awareness and working to make a difference in the lives of others.
Veena Nanthakumar
Veena is a professional counsellor and psycho-educator with more than 15 years of experience working with persons with mental health and addiction issues. She currently serves as the Outreach and Programme Manager for the Children and Youth team in Caregivers Alliance Limited, leading a team that offers training and emotional support to young caregivers of persons with mental health issues. She and her team work closely with institutes of higher learning such as Singapore University of Social Sciences and Singapore Institute of Management.
Details
Topic: [Fireside Chat] Youth 101: The Youth Challenges of Yesteryear and Today
Date: 15 June 2023, Thursday
Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm, including Q&A
Mode: Online via Zoom
Details will be emailed to all participants by 9 June 2023, Friday
Panellists: Jedaiah Chen
CEO of I’m Friendly Co
Alex Cheong
Caregiver to Child with anxiety disorder and selective mutism
Sirin Yeoh
Person-in-recovery diagnosed with bipolar II disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Veena Nanthakumar
Person-in-recovery diagnosed with bipolar disorder
Outreach & Programme Manager (Children & Youth), Caregivers Alliance Limited
Registration URL: Registration is now closed
There will be references to alcohol abuse and suicide during the session. Please do not attend if this is uncomfortable for you.
The session will be recorded. By participating in the virtual fireside chat, you automatically give us consent for you to be recorded with your camera on and name on the screen, or your camera off and name appearing on the recording. If you do not consent to being recorded, you may skip the session and watch the recording which will be made available 2 weeks after the session on this page.
We welcome everyone to join us for an informative sharing on challenges faced by youths, follow-by an interactive panel discussion session with our panellists and moderator.