Heartfelt Connections

26/03/2026

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in how we study, work, and seek information, an important question arises: How might AI shape our mental wellbeing and relationships?

at recently hosted a panel discussion on “Mental Health in the Age of AI.” It was a meaningful conversation bringing together perspectives from psychiatry, digital health innovation, and psychological research.

I had the privilege of moderating the session alongside an insightful panel:
🔹 Associate Professor Swapna Verma .singapore
🔹 Janice Weng (Ministry of Health Office for Healthcare Transformation) .sg
🔹 Adalia Goh and Jerlyn Ho (SMU PhD researchers studying AI and psychology)

Some key reflections from the discussion:
• AI can expand access to mental health resources and provide immediate support
• However, over-reliance on AI - particularly for companionship or emotional validation - may carry risks
• AI still struggles to understand context, culture, and nuance in human distress
• Ultimately, AI should be a tool that supports, not replaces, human connection

Perhaps the most important takeaway: as AI becomes more integrated into our lives, critical thinking, mental health literacy, and strong human relationships will matter more than ever.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the discussion and contributed thoughtful questions and perspectives.

15/03/2026

😴 Less than one in five students said they feel well-rested in their daily lives.

This was what we learned from students before they visited our World Sleep Day roadshow at Singapore Management University.

On 13 March 2026, Mrs Wong Kwok Leong Student Wellness Centre, in partnership with SMU Libraries and SMU Peer Helpers, hosted a campus roadshow for World Sleep Day with the theme:

✨ “Power Down, Power Up – Beyond Sleep: How Rest, Space, and Pause Restore Us.”

More than 300 students stopped by, many in the midst of mid-term season, to explore simple ways to recharge.

📊 Before visiting the roadshow:
• Less than one in five students felt well-rested in their daily lives
• Only about a quarter often intentionally took breaks during the day

Through interactive booths, students explored the 7 types of rest and small ways to recharge during their day.

🌙 Peer Helpers Booth: Students tried journalling (emotional rest) and dreamcatcher making (creative rest), simple activities that created space for reflection and creativity.

📚 SMU Libraries Booth: Students voted for their favourite activities at the Calm Space at Li Ka Shing Library, an initiative that encourages restorative breaks in the midst of studying.

Encouragingly, many students shared that after the roadshow they felt more relaxed, more reflective, and more aware of their need for rest. Over 80% said they are likely to try at least one rest strategy.

Thank you to Marilyn Kang and Jodie Tan, who worked with SMU Libraries and SMU Peer Helpers to organise the roadshow, and to all our staff who supported the event throughout the day.

Rest is not a luxury — it’s essential for sustainable wellbeing.

30/12/2025

✨ As 2025 comes to a close, I’d like to acknowledge the people behind the work of Mrs Wong Kwok Leong Student Wellness Centre.

🎨 During our staff retreat this year, besides consolidating our workplan for 2026, we enjoyed a relaxed and sumptuous buffet lunch, had unhurried conversations, and spent time mindfully painting clay pieces. At the end of the activity, each of us contributed a small artistic element to create a single centrepiece for our Centre, a reflection of how our team works together.

Each member of our team brings different strengths. They are people who:
👂 listen deeply and create safe, non-judgmental spaces for students with social-emotional difficulties and students with disabilities
💭 ask thoughtful questions, journey with students, and guide them towards their own insights
💛 hold space with patience and kindness amidst the challenges students bring into sessions

Over the past year, our team has:
🧩 developed micro-interventions through newsletters, quizzes, and large-scale roadshows where students practise practical skills
🌱 strengthened a tiered peer-support ecosystem, from Peer Helpers (PHs) with advanced training, to Friends of PHs, to a wider student community with basic mental health literacy
🧠 expanded counselling capacity through practicum counsellors supported by clinical supervision
🧭 supported students with disabilities in building skills to manage challenges and transition into life and work

💬 Some feedback we received from students this year:
- “My counsellor created a safe, non-judgmental space where I felt truly seen and heard.”
- “I learned grounding techniques that I actually use when I’m anxious.”
- “She guided my thought process by asking the right questions and allowed me to come to my own solutions.”
- “I no longer feel that everything is insurmountable, even when it’s difficult.”
- “The sessions helped me understand my emotions better and gave me tools I can carry forward.”
- “I felt supported, reassured, and encouraged — not rushed or judged.”

Singapore Management University

24/12/2025

I recently visited Fountains, an art exhibition by my Bahá’í friends .ching and . The works were thoughtful, deeply personal, and quietly powerful, touching on themes of disability, worth, vulnerability, mental health, healing, and the inner resources we draw on during difficult seasons.

I was drawn to the installation of IV bags labelled Hope, Courage, and Perseverance. Framed like clinical prescriptions, they offered something far more human: a reminder of the emotional and psychological strengths we often need to “administer” when life feels uncertain or overwhelming.

I was drawn to “Courage” first, with its soft pink shimmer — a piece that speaks to acting despite fear, not in the absence of it. I later chose “Hope”, a calm blue presence that reflects motivation, resilience, and our capacity to cope with loss, illness, and significant stress.

Yesterday, Leng and Vincent came by my office to help install these pieces. They now hang in a counselling space where conversations about hope and courage are part of daily work. My hope is that students who notice them may feel quietly encouraged — reminded that these inner resources are not fixed traits, but capacities that can be strengthened, replenished, and supported.

Art does more than occupy a wall. It holds space for reflection, meaning, and healing.

09/11/2025

I watched Dear Evan Hansen this weekend with my two sons - a musical that goes far beyond its songs. It tells the story of a socially anxious teenager whose desperate need to belong leads to lies, loss, and eventually, honesty and healing.

What struck me most was how real it felt - how accurately it captured the mental health landscape of our times:
- the ache of social isolation in a world that’s supposed to be more connected than ever,
- the quiet grief and guilt that follow su***de,
- the loneliness felt by both young people and parents trying their best,
- and the fragile but redemptive power of vulnerability and truth.

As a counsellor, these themes are not abstract. They show up in real conversations every day. As a mother, they hit close to home - the longing to be understood, the exhaustion of holding things together, and the comfort that comes when someone finally says, “You’re not alone.”

✨ Here are some of my key reflections and small actions you can consider:

💕 1. Connection saves lives. Loneliness grows in silence. Sometimes, all it takes is one genuine check-in to remind someone they matter.
👉 Reach out to one person this week — not to give advice, but to listen.

💫 2. Honesty and being vulnerable heals. In the story, healing began when the truth was finally spoken - imperfect, but real.
👉 Create spaces where people feel safe to share what’s true for them, without fear of being judged.

🙏 3. Compassion is something that each and everyone of us need. We cannot pour from an empty cup.
👉 Offer kindness to someone (as many as you can) whom you interact with. A simple “How are you?” can go a long way.

Dear Evan Hansen reminded me that being there for one another doesn’t always take grand gestures - just small, steady acts of care that say, “You matter.” 💙

***dePrevention

29/10/2025

Here is sharing an article about our annual Mental Health Week roadshow which our Centre organised last week.

We collaborated with various Offices, Student Clubs and external agencies to curate micro-interventions centered on the six dimensions of the SMU Resilience Framework.

A shoutout to all the amazing staff in the Centre (and our partners) who made this event a resounding success! 🤗

This year’s SMU Mental Health Week (MHW) was more than an annual tradition — it was a milestone. Held from 22 to 24 October, the event coincided with both SMU’s 25th Anniversary and World Mental Health Day (10 October), bringing together students, staff and faculty in a vibrant celebration of ...

17/10/2025

🌿 SMU Mental Health Week 2025 | 22–24 October | SMU Concourse (T-Junction) 🌿

This year’s SMU Mental Health Week (MHW) holds special significance as it coincides with both SMU’s 25th Anniversary and World Mental Health Day (10 October) — a global reminder of the importance of caring for our mental health and well-being.

Taking place from 22–24 October 2025, MHW invites all students, staff, and faculty to come together in a spirit of care, connection, and resilience.

✨ Theme: “Empowered to Thrive — Strength in Every Step”
This year’s theme affirms that mental health is not just an individual journey, but a shared responsibility and a cornerstone of a thriving community. Whether navigating academic challenges, professional transitions, or personal growth, each of us can strengthen our resilience across the six dimensions of the SMU Resilience Framework — physical, intellectual, social, emotional, financial, and career.

🎲 At the heart of MHW 2025 is a boardgame-inspired roadshow, featuring fun, interactive activities designed to help you reflect, recharge, and build essential life skills.

🔗 Link in bio for programme



.libraries .voices .sg .studentcare .psychsociety

10/10/2025

World Mental Health Day 2025

At , we’re reminded every day that mental wellness is not a destination — it’s something we build together, through connection, compassion, and care.

This year, we’re especially proud to share a beautiful mural designed by Owen Chau from TWENTY-THIRD COLLECTIVE. It was first unveiled at our Connections that Heal Roadshow (held in conjunction with World Su***de Prevention Day), and recently enjoyed a special visit from our Provost, who stopped by as I shared the story behind its design.

The mural is now displayed on campus, where it will stay as we count down to SMU Mental Health Week (22–24 October 2025).

It’s a gentle reminder that mental health is supported not only by formal services, but also by the everyday moments of understanding, empathy, and community that make a difference in our students’ lives.

16/09/2025

✨ Connections That Heal @ ✨

In conjunction with World Su***de Prevention Day and SMU’s 25th Anniversary, the , together with and .psychsociety, hosted the Connections That Heal roadshow on 9 September 2025.

💡 450–500 students participated in activities designed to build social and emotional resilience:

🗣️ Café Conversations with Peer Helpers — sparking open, meaningful dialogue.

✍️ Spin-Write-Fold with Psychology Society — writing letters to one’s future self and mindful origami.

🎯 Students shared key strategies they want to bring into daily life:
💫 Taking time to relax and connect with friends
💫 Practising reflection and gratitude
💫 Journalling to understand emotions
💫 Talking more openly with peers
💫 Prioritising self-care and learning to say no

🌈 A highlight was the CONNECT mnemonic postcard, a simple everyday guide to resilience:
☀️ Check In
☀️ Open Up
☀️ Nurture Relationships
☀️ Name the Feeling
☀️ Embrace Change
☀️ Care for Yourself
☀️ Talk It Out

Together, we were reminded that resilience grows stronger when we connect — with ourselves and with one another. 💙

Special thanks to our Provost, Prof Alan Chan for coming by to support our team and the students! 🙏🏼

***dePreventionDay

04/09/2025

PMS (Pre-Menstrual Stress) affects up to 80% of menstruating individuals — yet it’s still brushed aside as something “to just deal with.”

This afternoon, invited Dr Jody Paige Goh to speak on “In Tune with Your Cycle” — to help students better understand the science behind PMS, debunk common myths, and learn practical strategies they can use right away.

Students were highly engaged throughout the session, asking thoughtful questions and connecting deeply with the insights shared.

💡 Practical strategies shared:
- Track your cycle: it helps connect symptoms to hormonal changes.
- Diet matters: reduce sugar spikes, caffeine, and alcohol; focus on balance.
- Exercise helps: aerobic activity eases fatigue and cramps.
- Rest well: good sleep hygiene makes a real difference.
- Know the red flags: heavy bleeding, extreme mood shifts, or pain outside the usual cycle may signal PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) or another condition.

By normalising conversations around women’s health, we empower students with both knowledge and tools — strengthening not only their well-being today, but their confidence to advocate for themselves in the future.

17/08/2025

This summer ☀️, I started making my own salad bowls — inspired by Nourish Bowls at Soup Spoon. What began as a lunch idea turned into a mindful practice of creativity and nourishment.

Each bowl is a combination of:
- Fresh & roasted vegetables 🥗
- Fresh fruit 🍓🍊🫐🥝
- Nuts and dried fruit
- Brown rice & flaxseed meal
- Healthy protein

Over 3 months, I’ve created 30 over colourful bowls — each one a reminder that caring for our bodies also supports our mental and emotional wellbeing. 🤗

Sometimes self-care is as simple (and joyful!) as what we put in our bowl. 💕

I’ve been sharing recipes on and my blog — come take a look if you’d like fresh inspiration! 💫

24/05/2025

🕊️ How can religion help in su***de prevention?

I was recently invited to share at an interfaith panel held at the Harmony in Diversity Gallery, alongside speakers from the Christian and Muslim communities. The discussion focused on the meaningful role that religion can play in preventing su***de — a topic that calls for both compassion and courage.

Speaking from the Bahá’í perspective, I shared the 3 Cs as ways in which faith can offer protection and hope:

🌱 Community – creating a sense of belonging and emotional support
🕯️ Connection – to God, to spiritual habits, and to constructive ways of thinking
💠 Cause – finding purpose and meaning through service and love

I also spoke about the need to strengthen the bonds within our communities — to look out for one another, be genuinely caring, avoid judgment, eliminate prejudice, and create space for those who may believe differently or practise their faith in their own way.

“Do not be content with showing friendship in words alone, let your heart burn with loving-kindness for all who may cross your path.” – ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

The panel responded to heartfelt questions from the audience — about the roots of despair, how to support someone with suicidal thoughts, and the importance of offering a listening ear rather than easy answers.

Whether we hold to a religious belief or not, each of us can play a part in building a more caring and connected world — where no one feels invisible, and everyone knows they matter.

***dePrevention