On 6 November, the SABS Ananda Teen class invited Ms. Asha Raj a/p I. S. Nadarajah, a qualified counselor, for a special session on mental health and emotional regulation. We talked about different mental health disorders, the importance of self-love, and how to maintain our mental and emotional health.

In the hour-long session, Ms. Asha discussed the differences between stress, depression, and anxiety, common terms describing mental health that are often confused with each other. She defined stress as physical, mental, or emotional discomfort, whereas anxiety is the effect of that unresolved stress, leading to overthinking and excessive worry. Depression, on the other hand, is not a temporary feeling of low spirits but prolonged sadness, guilt, and helplessness. If left untreated, Ms. Asha cautioned that depression could lead to suicidal thoughts.

To combat these mental pressures, Ms. Asha encouraged students to seek professional help if necessary. She also suggested developing new interests and to tune to one’s inner thoughts. Most importantly, she emphasised, students must learn to cultivate self-love. To achieve that, Ms. Asha guided the students through an activity where students were asked to draw a self-portrait. Next to the portrait, they were required to write five positive attributes about themselves and a few validating sentences. Validation is crucial, Ms. Asha stressed. Instead of seeking external compliments, sometimes we need to look in and validate ourselves, our feelings.

All in all, it was a fruitful, informative session that is highly relevant to all of our daily lives. We should remember to tune in to our inner thoughts and constantly validate ourselves. At the same time, we should always be open to speaking out, either to professionals or our loved ones and kalyana mitra. A helping hand and listening ear are always available if we reach out.

May all be well and happy.