If you have not heard, there is a suicide awareness campaign by Samaritans of Singapore. Throughout the day, there were volunteers at various MRT stations across Singapore were giving out plasters with the words #howru .
Many local icons and artistes has taken part in this campaign such as Benjamin and Narelle Kheng from The Sam Willows, Mediacorp actress Oon ShuAn and Jayley Woo and many others like Shigga Shay and Hirzi.These people are well known and used their influence and the fact that people look up to them to help spread awareness and support this campaign.
Suicide so real to me
Personally, I have been struggling a lot with depression, suicide and hurting myself. I was bullied in primary school, ostracized and left out in secondary school with loads of rumors that made me look like the bad person and to add on, the stress of studies and pressure from teachers and at home didn't help. To make things worse, so many people especially those I held so dear and treasured so much and treasured so dear left. One by one I saw them leave as they stopped caring and stopped understanding why I was who I was. It was crazy to cope with everything. And I turned to the knife. Everyone saw it as attention seeking and as it was easier to say it was then to admit I was really hurting and everyone just brushed it aside. Even up till now in Poly I still struggle with it every single day. Thankfully I've been blessed with friends and people who cared and continued to help me through the tough times and never gave up on me no matter how negative I was, no matter how emotional I am, even when I myself totally gave up hope. Even though sometimes these people left, I am still thankful that I had someone there for me. It isn't easy to go through all of this, it isn't easy to feel all alone in the world, it isn't easy with all those insecurities and pent up emotions. I know what it is like to go through shit. I've had my fair share of problems even though I go to school with all smiles. I know how it is easier to say "I'm fine" than "I'm hurting" because more often then not, people don't truly care or end up turning their back on you. Yes, I have turned to suicide and hurting myself so many times, even now. But I am staying strong. Now, I do things to make me happy and I look for inspirational quotes and remember what the people I hold so dear to my heart has told me to get me through. And I am also doing my best to be there for my friends through their tough times, no matter how they have treated me in the past or if I am close to the person or not.
Suicide is something so real yet often overlooked upon. A simple " How are you? " and showing concern to someone can make someone feel less alone and take their minds off things while getting a chance to let them share what they need to get off their chest.
If you've friends or family who has been feeling down lately or you know he/she is having a bad day, don't overlook it that " oh it's just life " or tell them that " everything will be ok " without understanding how they feet or what they are going through. Personally, I've been struggling with this for years and I'm thankful to be blessed with people who at some point of time really helped me through and inspired me to be a stronger and better person. And more often then not, we always brush aside these feelings be it for attention or just telling the person to look on the brighter side of life. It's much more than that. To everyone reading this, show your concern cause you never know what someone is really going through, and you might just save a life.
" Don't wait and wish that you could've changed things for someone; if you see someone you think is sinking, reach for them with everything you've got. "
- Benjamin Kheng
