Nicholas Gabriel - Author, Entrepreneur, Psychologist & Mentor

16/07/2025

Today was the launch of the HEART Professionals Network at - and here’s why it’s a big deal for all of us in Singapore.

The Singapore Psychological Society (SPS) is stepping up in a strategic and powerful way, partnering with the Home Team, Social Workers, Counsellors, and Psychiatrists to boost our national psychological response to emergencies.

This is not just about being prepared for terrorist attacks or disasters, it is about protecting the mental well-being of everyday Singaporeans, especially our young, who are increasingly at risk from drug abuse, radicalisation, scams, and online exploitation.

With SPS at the table, we are not just responding, we are shaping policies, sharing expertise, and ensuring that psychological support is baked into our national crisis management plans. This kind of collaboration strengthens our resilience not just as professionals, but as a nation.

This is psychological science at work for the public good. Proud to be part of a profession that does not sit on the sidelines. 🇸🇬🧠💪

A regional platform was also launched for professionals like forensic and legal psychologists and researchers. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

21/06/2025

Great conversation team!!

Thank you for what you do so passionately and helping those in need.

The gaming world can be so misunderstood to many, especially parents. How then can we engage our children when they constantly turn to it, some times against parents’ better judgement.

Some ideas for your consideration here.. Have a listen! Enjoy!

24/05/2025

Another year and another wonderful weekend of sharing and learning.

It has been a tremendous journey of growth with the Comeback team since we started in 2019.

Our learning, reach and resources have grown significantly. We are excited about the ventures we are getting into this year.

Watch this space!

Thank you to all who spent your Sat morning with us at the Parents Webinar: Understanding Games, Gamers and Game Dependency 9th Edition. We hope what we have shared is helpful to you.

Here’s the link to the content shared in articles and videos: https://linktr.ee/comebackworld

06/05/2025

As the nation-wide efforts to support youths with mental health concerns and issues continue, our SPS members have put together this edition of "Exploring Youth Mental Health" for everyone and anyone.

I am really appreciative of the team and members for focusing on Youth Mental Health in this edition on the Singapore Psychologist, the Singapore Psychological Society's quarterly flagship magazine.

Good read all around. It covers a variety of youth mental health topics.

I particularly enjoyed the one on "How to Help Youths Build Humour to Improve Their Mental Health".

Humour can indeed help improve the mental health of youths. It can be used "to reframe negative thoughts in funny representations; this can create a psychological distance for the person to stay apart from the negative thoughts in order to maintain positive mental health", as one article highlights.

Another article I enjoyed is on "Ecotherapy & Outdoor Self-Care for Youth". While the benefits of ecotherapy are clear, encouraging young people to spend more time in nature can be challenging, the article proposes to:

1. Start small
2. Leverage technology
3. Incorporate social elements

Have a good read! Spread this resource. Let me know some of your take aways from the numerous articles published in this edition of Singapore Psychologist. Any other helpful tips to add to the resource here as well?

https://singaporepsychologicalsociety.org/resources/singapore-psychologist/

27/04/2025

IT IS BACK!!

Our annual Parents Webinar on understanding games, gamers, and game dependency is back! We will have Mandarin simultaneous translation on Zoom again as well. 🤗🤩

Recognizing the increasing need for parents to manage children's gaming due to mobile device access, the webinar acknowledges gaming's prevalence and the ineffectiveness of complete restriction, while addressing concerns about excessive gaming and the underdiagnosis of game dependency.

The webinar aims to equip parents with frameworks to understand these topics, improve communication and relationships with their children through communication strategies based on youth brain development.

Date: 24 May 2025 (Sat)
Time: 8.30am – 11.30am (SGT)
Cost: Sponsored
Venue: Zoom Webinar

More Info and Registration: https://bit.ly/UGGG2025I

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Event Info 活动信息 Date: 24 May 2025 (Sat) Time: 8.30am – 11.30am (Singapore Time)Cost: FreeVenue: Zoom WebinarRegistration Link: https://bit.ly/UGGG2025 NOTE: A unique zoom link will be emailed to you to join the webinar. Please sign up using the email address you use for your Zoom account. ...

24/04/2025

“Vaping is a big issue amongst youths in Singapore.”

Is this your observation and or experience?

Heard anyone mentioned this before to you?

Having difficulties with your “va**ng youths”?

Want to just find out more?

Come let’s discuss and learn about youth va**ng issue together!

If you are a parent, teacher, coach, youth worker, social work, mentor; as long as you are working with youths, and confronted with youth va**ng issues, come! Join in the discussion!

You never know what you will take away!

**ng

The harmful effects of va**ng are well known. The introduction of Kpods have no doubt made things worse. What theories could underpin our discussion with youths on this issue? When do we broach this discussion, knowing that having it premature could damage our r/s with youths and opportunities to journey with them on other issues like mental health, family, school, etc. How do the different systems, such as legal, social service, education, etc. all interact with better synergy for a more concerted effort to tackle the issue of va**ng? Sign up below and join us for a discussion. We want 2 hear u!
**ng

12/04/2025

Grateful that one of our HYSEN community member has agreed to join me on the show at 11am this morning. It’s really important to support and learn from each other.

So JOIN US by tuning in. Can ask us questions too!! See details below:

===================

*HYSEN: Helping Youths Succeed Empowerment Network
https://nas.io/HelpingYOUthSucceedEN

In a world where teens face mounting pressures and feel increasingly misunderstood, how can parents truly support them? We explore the science of adolescent development and introduce practical coaching strategies. Learn how to bridge the gap and build empowering relationships with the youth in your life.

WhatsApp your questions to 963 11938.

Family Ties with Susan Ng. Saturdays at 11am, 4pm & 10pm on .

Listen to Family Ties podcasts here:
https://www.melisten.sg/podcast/playlist/family-ties-2592636

09/04/2025

Down but not out!

Glad to be able to still have a bit of interactions, and able to get around for some fresh air and positive vibes.

In the world that we are living in right now, and more so moving forward, look out for signs of negative and intrusive thoughts.

Speak with someone you love or trust, and let not the negative thoughts fester in our mind. Be with people who may positively hold space for you.

Look out for each other, especially our young. Look out for signs of worry, anxiousness, depressiveness, moodiness, etc.

Offer to go for ice-cream or for a walk or to do a favourite activity together.

Let’s hold on to each other together. As a family. As a community. As a school. As a society. As a nation!

28/03/2025

What is the point of doing what you are doing when you get so sucked into it?

Some people call that passion.

Some people call that focus.

There is a place for passion and focus for sure, but to what extent does it not become passion and focus.

I argue that once we lose our “WHY” the passion is lost. And when there are TOO many competing targets, the focus is lost.

The distant blocks of flats remind me that we can never be too far from losing our passion and focus, especially living and working in Singapore.

How do I ensure that I am always anchored in my WHYs and not have too many competing targets to focus on?

I think it is to make a conscious decision to step away from what we are doing and not get sucked into it, to align back to our WHYs, calibrate and adjust.

Such rare life moments to come away like this.

28/03/2025

We are going to have a new home! 🥰🤩🎉

I honoured and humbled to be invited to join the board of the Children’s Aid Society, established in 1902, one of Singapore’s oldest secular philanthropic organisations.

Melrose Home and Melrose Care are two services that provide residential care and specialised therapies, to support children and youths who have experienced adverse life circumstances such as abuse or neglect.

We had to move from the Clementi Road building it had occupied for about 50 years to a temporary site in Boon Lay Avenue in 2019 due to asbestos contamination.

We had the groundbreaking with Min. Desmond Lee and Sim Ann for our all new Melrose Village, which will integrate the residential care, Melrose Home, and therapeutic services, Melrose Care, providing an environment that fosters healing, growth and development in 2027!!

It aims to house up to 60 youths including those between 17 and 21 years, helping them to transit into adulthood more smoothly.

Like what Min. Lee mentioned, “supporting children and young people who have been through challenging circumstances is a shared responsibility.”

I invite you to join in on this journey to continue to support youths, especially those in need and disadvantaged, wherever you are in your corner of society.

Much work has been done over the years at CAS, and much more to come to get the home ready. We managed to raised over $16 million towards its $25 million fund-raising goal so far to build Melrose Village! Just keep going!!

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/childrens-aid-society-hopes-to-move-into-new-home-for-abused-kids-by-end-2027

22/03/2025

The journey to recovery begins...

Appreciate all the well wishes and prayers. Thank you for checking in dear friends, colleagues and loved ones.

Had to undergo a surgery to fix two torn tendons on my right shoulder due to a fall I had some time back.

This is what happens when you think a minor pain may not amount to anything; and if there was indeed an injury, the body will heal on its own.

How wrong I was.

The pain persisted and got worst. It affected daily movements. The range of motions gradually became limited as well.

Well, it should be all fixed now. The hope is that there will no longer be any pain and the full range of motions would be back.

The lesson learnt is to listen to your body and don't wait till its too late to attend to it, esp when there is pain. Pain is the body's way of saying that "I am hurting, help me". The pain will get worst, if we don't attend to it! Take action early.

I am glad I did not wait till its too late. Still a long road to recovery, but recover it will. Doctor say I still young. 🤣💪🏼 Recovery will be faster! If I waited longer, I may need to replace the entire shoulder instead 😱😅

Keep well everyone! Stay healthy!

10/03/2025

It has been almost 2 year since I posted this.

And you have probably heard the news!

"Singapore to register psychologists to safeguard patient safety, boost public confidence" - The Straits Times | https://str.sg/KPE5

"Psychologists will have to register to practise in Singapore" - ChannelNewsAsia | https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/psychologists-register-practise-mental-healthcare-services-patient-safety-moh-4984756

It took us years and many leadership successions to be where we are today.

Being a psychologist working with youths for the past twenty years, the concerns and malpractices are real. I guess in those days, it was not really a problem because there were not many complains or people speaking out or loud enough for the powers to take it seriously.

However, it is sad that it had to take such a world crisis like the covid pandemic for the matter to be pushed to the forefront in Singapore. Sometimes it seems like decisions are made so reactively.

I am not complaining, I am totally for it. I have been advocating it for a long time. My clients are considered largely vulnerable clients because they are young. I have attended to them far too many times hearing them share that they have lost trust in mental health practitioners.

When my clients see me, I would consider them "unmotivated" clients. They are either mandated by law to see me, have to see me because they have broken some school rules and as a discipline measure, behaviour intervention is required, or parents needed help and coming to me was the last resort.

And before coming to see me, I found out that my clients have actually seen other psychologists, but stopped for a variety of reasons. Some of the common ones include betrayal of trust, feel uncomfortable, inaccurate diagnosis, not getting any better or issues not improving.

If the supposed psychologist was even remotely practicing ethically, there is no way to know if he or she claimed to be one, but not trained and is not even a member of the Singapore Psychologicla Society, the psychologist could have referred the case to someone who can work with their client better.

“This (regulation) will raise professional standards, safeguard patient safety and increase public confidence in psychological services. Further details will be announced at a later date,” said Dr Janil.

I am grateful for Dr Janil's leadership on this matter, and will continue to work closely with the inter-agency committee to push forward and to see to its full implementation.

It’s official!Honoured and humbled to be able to serve SPS again. I am glad I had the opportunity to say yes, because I can. I have the task now to look into the regulation of the psychological pro…