Elaine – A Beacon of Hope, Empathy, and Transformation

In 2024 and again in 2025, Elaine was honored as a winner of the Global Women Influencer Award—a recognition of her profound impact as a coach, speaker, and advocate. But Elaine isn’t just another voice in the crowd. She’s someone who truly understands—because she’s been there too.

She knows the weight of feeling stuck, the whispers of self-doubt, and the aching question: “Is there more to life than this?” An Author, NLP & Enneagram Executive Coach, Trainer, Speaker, and Advocate for Psychosocial Communications, Elaine’s journey hasn’t been a smooth, straight path. She’s faced challenges, setbacks, and moments that shook her to the core. But instead of letting those struggles define her, she turned them into fuel—fuel to guide others toward healing, strength, and purpose.

**”I’ve been there too.”**

There was a time when the pain felt unbearable. On three separate occasions, I considered ending my life. What I didn’t have then was the courage to go through with it—and today, I stand as a **Survivor**.

But my story doesn’t end there. I’ve also sat across from people who were planning to take their own lives. When I learned of their struggles, my heart broke with questions: *Did I see the signs? Could I have done more?*
This is why I’m here—to **listen**, to **understand**, and to **walk beside you** through the darkest moments. Because no one should have to face their battles alone.

This isn’t just a conversation—it’s an invitation. An invitation to **heal**, to **grow**, and to **discover the strength you already hold inside**.

If my journey has taught me anything, it’s this: **Your pain does not define you. Your courage does.**

Let’s talk. Let’s heal. Let’s rise—**together**.
Elaine

*(If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Reach out. Your story matters.)*

Jackie has been in the non-profit sector for more than 15 years and is currently, since May 2017, the Executive Director of Psaltcare, an IPC charity organisation dedicated towards supporting and sustaining persons with mental health challenges in their recovery journeys.  Psaltcare leverages on the lived experiences of our dynamic community of peers – many of whom inspire others to marvel at their resilience through challenges – to provide life-transforming peer support to persons facing similar mental health challenges.

Bringing with him precious mental health recovery insights from Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP®), of which he is just one of two persons in Singapore who has formally completed level 2 training, he will share useful strategies for caregivers on how to cope during periods of intense mental stress and challenges.

Speaking from both personal and professional capacities as a caregiver to persons with serious mental health challenges and suicide ideation, Jackie seeks to encourage, inspire, and equip others, including other caregivers in their mental health recovery and wellbeing journeys.

The founder and current Executive Director of Limitless, Asher is a social worker with over fifteen years of experience working with young people. He also has clinical tenures in the family, prisons and youth sectors. 
Asher has a special passion to help youths who struggle with mental health conditions, and has spearheaded research, advocacy, and public education efforts to help promote help-seeking behavior, reduce stigma in youths, and improve public knowledge and skills in trauma informed care.
Having served on multiple interagency committees on mental health, Asher works closely with other leaders in government, stat boards, and other social service agencies in the mental health landscape to explore how we can build a better ecosystem of support for people with mental health conditions, make help seeking easier, as well as facilitate prevention of said mental health conditions.

Alvin Arvind Jaya Raj is a Senior Counsellor of Oasis for Minds Services @ Children’s Society (OMS). At OMS, the team aims to provide a continuity of services from mental health promotion, accessible early interventions to recovery-focused services.

Alvin has been working with children and youths since 2018 providing counselling services to CYPs at-risk and those in emotional distress along with their families in different settings. Some of the difficulties experienced by CYPs he has worked with include struggles with anger management, depressive symptoms, self-harm behaviors, suicidality, poor image of self, and difficulties with interpersonal relationships. Additionally, Alvin has familiarity in program development to support youths-at-risk. Past programs conducted include camps, one-off events, and structured group work that aim to increase resilience and improve emotional and social development of participants. 

Brian Poh is a Principal Clinical Psychologist and Deputy Head of Psychology at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). Leading the Child Psychology team at the Mood and Anxiety Clinic, he specialises in treating adolescents with mood disorders who often present with suicidal thoughts. His work involves providing psychological assessments and interventions for children and adolescents experiencing depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Brian is passionate about youth mental health and supporting youths through their mental health challenges.

WE CARE treats all forms of addictions including drugs, alcohol, and compulsive behaviours like problem gambling, compulsive sex behaviours & porn use, overeating, problematic internet use & excessive gaming and shoplifting.

We take a holistic approach to help people live an addiction-free life. We offer evidence-based counselling and therapy group work.

WE CARE is also a community-based drop-in centre where a safe, supportive and non-judgmental environment is provided for individuals to stabilise and work on their recovery.

Hazirah is a member of the let’s talk team, the community forum that runs in tandem with youth mindline. Trained in Clinical Psychology, she supports the clinical and safety aspects of the platform and helps shape the way mental health support is offered to young people online. She is deeply passionate about the intersection of mental health and technology, and is especially interested in creating safe, inclusive digital spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported. Her work is driven by a commitment to reducing stigma, encouraging help-seeking, and reaching vulnerable and underserved populations. 

Xinyi is passionate about building genuine connections to enhance well-being, both for individuals and communities. As a community engagement lead at mindline.sg, she creates meaningful spaces for conversations around mental wellness, working closely with schools, partners, and youth to make support more accessible. Xinyi believes that well-being is shaped by the people around us, the conversations we have, and most importantly, ourselves. Through her work, she brings people together, encourages open dialogue, and helps others feel supported—whether it’s through a casual check-in, a shared experience, or simply knowing we’re not alone.

Joyder Ng is the Associate Director of the Centre for Advocacy, Relations and Engagement (CARE) and SowCare Ltd, the charity arm of The Bible Society of Singapore. In her role, she oversees biblical advocacy and engagement programmes, while also leading efforts to support marginalised communities—particularly rough sleepers and migrant domestic workers (MDWs).

She currently serves as the Team Lead of the Alliance of Domestic Employees Outreach (ADEO), a movement under Hope Initiative Alliance (HIA), which has reached over 20,000 MDWs through holistic and community-driven care. Her involvement in the Ending Homelessness Together movement and the management of Safe Sound Sleeping Places (S3P) since 2020 reflects her deep commitment to restoring dignity to the homeless.

Joyder holds a Master’s in Counselling from SUSS, pursued with the desire to better understand emotional and psychological needs. During the pandemic, she was seconded to SowCare to support large-scale care pack distributions to migrant workers’ dormitories and extend direct support to the homeless.

Beyond her professional role, Joyder actively serves in the sector through various NGOs, including as a volunteer trainer for suicide prevention with Caring For Life (CFL).

A strong believer in innovative teaching and lifelong learning, Joyder is passionate about people, wellness, and growth. She motivated to bring out the “joy of learning” and cultivate a “learning for life” mindset across all ages.

Gerard Das has a Master of Social Science (Counselling & Psychotherapy) from Edith Cowan University. He has a Diploma from the School of Ministry of Tung Ling Bible School and is a Training Facilitator in Classical Trauma Healing from American Bible Society.  He is also trained in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).

Gerard had been a lecturer, trainer and consultant at the Institute of Technical Education for more than 20 years. He retired as the Clinical Manager at Simei Care Centre (Anglican Care Centre-Simei) which provides psychiatric rehabilitation for people with mental illness. He supervised the counsellors & case managers under his purview.

Currently, he supporting CFL as Clinical Director and also does freelance work, provides counselling to individuals, families and couples together with his wife. They also set up communities of care for people with mental health issues.  He also serves as a volunteer with Prison Fellowship Singapore.

Cheo Yee Wei is a counsellor at Samaritans of Singapore Limited (SOS). She provides one-to-one counselling and facilitates structured support groups for those bereaved by suicide. In tandem with her role, she also supports SOS’s Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) programme that provides immediate and longer-term support for those impacted by suicide. In the LOSS programme, Yee Wei advocates for comprehensive bereaved services, ensuring that individuals who have lost loved ones to suicide, receive support and care to navigate their grief and recovery. Recognising the profound impact that suicide can have on a client’s personal and professional lives, Yee Wei has also developed workshops tailored for both clinical and non-clinical staff at SOS to support them in their grief journey.

My name is Alicia Lim, and I am a mother who walks with grief every day. On a quiet June day in 2021, my world was forever changed when I lost my eldest son, Paul, to suicide. He was 23 years old. My son, who once filled my life with laughter, drama, dreams, and purpose, became a memory, and I was left with a grief so profound, time stood still—and so did my breath.

As a mother, I struggled with guilt, with silence, with the unbearable weight of “what if.” I spiraled through emotions that no parent should ever have to feel. There were moments I didn’t know how I would survive.

But slowly, in the midst of pain, I found small glimmers of light—through support, community, reflection, and love. I began to understand that grief is not something we “get over,” but something we learn to live with. I learned to carry Paul with me in every breath, in every step, in every chapter I continue to write with my loved ones.

Today, I share my grief journey not just in remembrance of Paul, but in honor of every family who has faced this pain. I speak because suicide loss can feel isolating and invisible, and yet none of us are truly alone. I speak to give voice to those who no longer can. I speak because Paul’s story deserves to be told.

If you are struggling, or if you’ve lost someone to suicide, I want you to know: you are not alone. Healing is not linear, and grief never leaves—but neither does love. Together, by sharing our stories, we can bring light to the darkness, and keep the legacy of our loved ones alive.

Forever Paul’s mom,
Alicia Lim 

Meet Sujata, a beacon of hope and resilience. Sujata is a multifaceted leader – an entrepreneur, life mentor, author, podcaster, keynote speaker, mental wellbeing consultant, and management consultant. With a passion for training and development, she provides valuable services to individuals and organizations.

As the recipient of the prestigious ‘Against All Odds’ hero award and the Rising Constellation award for being a trusted friend to many, Sujata’s dedication to positive change has earned her recognition. Recently honoured with the Honoris Causa Degree of Honorary Doctorate (Dr. HC) for Outstanding Entrepreneurship and Coaching in Life Transformation, as well as the Humanitarian & Social Impact Leadership Award 2025, Sujata’s work has touched countless lives.

Through her collaborations with organizations, Sujata amplifies her impact, spreading hope and empowerment. Her journey is a testament to perseverance and hard work. With passion, expertise, and compassion, Sujata pushes boundaries and breaks down barriers, motivating others to overcome challenges and strive for excellence.

Alia Ali is an expert by experience. She is the Chairman of ZuriatCARE Foundation and the Founder of Awareness Against Suicide (AWAS) Malaysia. When Alia started her advocacy journey, suicide was still a crime in her country. Malaysia had only recently decriminalized suicide in 2023. Despite the stigma and challenges, she persevered. Alia has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Grand Valley State University, Michigan, USA and a Master’s Degree in Development Studies and Culture Change from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Initially, AWAS was a peer support group, by and for survivors of suicide loss. It then became an official program of the foundation by the end of 2020.

Alia Ali is a suicide prevention advocate with lived experience who has been championing issues on postvention in Malaysia. Under Alia’s leadership, AWAS has organized many programs and events on mental health and suicide prevention. She has also been invited to speak, train and share her lived experience on local and international platforms, including at a townhall meeting with the presence of a Member of Parliament, as well as a keynote speaker at an international event. AWAS has also been featured in tv, radios, podcasts and newspapers. Additionally, she has written and published in a book entitled “Aku Dijangkiti Kehidupan 2.0” of her lived experience, in the hopes to provide hope and healing to Malay language readers who would want to understand what it’s like to navigate grief and suicide loss in an unjust and stigmatized world.

Dr. Chew Yat Peng is a registered counsellor with the Singapore Association for Counselling and a registered social worker with the Singapore Association of Social Workers. She began her career in social services in 2001 and joined O’Joy Limited in 2009. She is currently a Principal Counsellor and Social Worker at O’Joy, providing counselling and clinical case management services for older persons and their caregivers, as well as for adults with mental health issues. Dr Chew also trains and supervises volunteer para-counsellors who pay regular home visits and provide psycho-emotional support to older persons and their caregivers. 

Dr. Linus is the lead for community partnerships in the planned new hospital in Tengah, Tengah General and Community Hospital, which is projected to be ready by mid-2030s. He is also the medical lead for NUHS Community Care Team and Regional Health System Office.  His team is hoping to train and empower community volunteers, caregivers and lay public with useful health and caregiving knowledge and skills to alleviate our national caregiving burden.  Tengah General & Community Hospital  hopes to work closely with health and social care providers and agencies, and in alignment with national healthcare initiatives to achieve its community goals.  

Linus is also a grassroots volunteer in Bukit Batok SMC where he chairs 2 taskforces (Community Healthcare Taskforce and Green Ribbon Taskforce) looking at promoting health and mental wellness in the constituency.  He will be sharing from his experience promoting ground up initiatives through the taskforces as well.

Venerable Wong Tak Meng is the Archdeacon for Community Services of the Diocese of Singapore. He provides leadership for the Diocese’s Community Service Chaplaincy Ministry through partnerships between churches and the professional services of St Andrew’s Mission Hospital (SAMH) and Singapore Anglican Community Services (SACS). He has been exploring since 1997 how to help people with mental disorders to experience recovery.

Aneez Fathima Mohamed Farook is currently working as a Mental Health Counsellor at Club HEAL. As a passionate counsellor providing counselling service to the Persons with Mental Health Issues and their Caregivers, people who lost their loved ones and Suicide Loss Survivors, With the multilingual fluency catering to the needs of the clients from multi-cultural background. Successfully conducting trainings to create mental health, dementia, and suicide awareness to the public.

Devika is an art therapist with case management experience and has worked in the mental health sector for many years. She holds a Bachelors (Hons) in Psychology and a MA in Art Therapy. She embarked on using creative therapeutic interventions when working with clients while keeping a holistic view of their social support system. She serves a broad range of clients, ranging from youth-at-risk to seniors recovering from chronic mental illnesses. Devika enjoys playing board games which at times has become an alternative approach in her work with clients.

Deborah began her journey with Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) in 2011, as one of the pioneers of SAMH Creative Services. Over the years, she has come to bear witness and devote her practice to how the arts can improve mental health. Her clinical practise allows her to journey with youths and adults from diverse backgrounds. She also supports SAMH in developing and enhancing donor and volunteer engagement. Deborah is a nature lover and enjoys engaging in various art and sporting activities. She has a Master in Art Therapy and Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Visual Communications.

Zoe is a certified IT Project Manager with over 3 years’ experience in business and innovative digital solution. Her expertise lies in bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI technologies and real-world business applications. 

Renee Chong, an esteemed educator with 16 years in Singapore’s education, is a visionary leader shaping students’ futures. As COO and co-founder of Mangachat, she blends her wealth of experience in advocating mental health in youth and children. As the CEO for Emmet Insight, she acquires exceptional leadership and strategic thinking skills. As Subject Head of Career Guidance and Head of Integrated Curriculum, Renee strategically guides students and designs enriching programs to promote holistic development. At the Ministry of Education, she revamped the Polytechnic Foundation Programme. Renee’s expertise extends to streamlining admission criteria amid evolving education landscapes, dedicated to empowering students for success.

Stephen Lew is the Founder and CEO of The School of Positive Psychology, a Singapore-based higher education institute that offers psychological centric training programmes for professional and corporate development. Since 2007, TSPP has trained more than 15,000 students and more than 500 organisations, and expanded its corporate training services to Philippines, Hong Kong and Japan.

An expert in the field of positive psychology with 18 years of experience in the higher education and training industry, Stephen holds a Master of Science in Applied Positive Psychology with a focus in Organisational Psychology and Leadership. He is also a certified psychotherapist, clinical hypnotherapist, supervisor, and a fellow with the National Council of Psychotherapists in the United Kingdom. As a psychotherapist and a positive psychology coach, Stephen has worked with more than 800 clients in the areas of wellbeing development.