CAL was thrilled to participate in the 5th edition of the Mental Health Film Festival (MHFF) this year! The festival, which ran from 7-10 November 2024, saw CAL set up an outreach booth alongside other community partners, and our caregivers share their stories in post-screening panel discussions.
At the high-traffic Suntec City venue, CAL staff and volunteers had the opportunity to promote CAL services available to isolated caregivers, connect with peers from other mental health organisations and exchange resources. Some of our Programme Managers even met their graduated C2C caregivers who now work in the mental health setting. One of our colleagues had the joy of meeting her sister's therapist in person for the first time!
During the panel discussion, the sharing from C2C Graduates Gabriel Chan and Heron Khalid Goh highlighted that anyone can be a caregiver, and everyone has a shared responsibility to support caregivers.
Gabriel, a C2C-PMHI Graduate, said, "We must advocate for mental health without shame. My daughter encouraged me to share my story, and I hope you will too. By talking openly, we can support those struggling and create a more understanding society."
A caregiver to his daughter recovering from depression, Gabriel was shocked to learn that his daughter had self-harmed while studying abroad. Get to know Gabriel here.
“Ultimately, I'm not a caregiver; I'm a son devoted to my parents. I'll do everything possible to care for them until I can't," said Heron, a C2C-Dementia Graduate. Heron’s life changed overnight when he had to return to Singapore to care for his parents, after 26 years of living overseas. Read his story here.
With caregiving responsibilities largely undertaken by mothers and daughters in the family, CAL is grateful to these male caregivers for stepping forward and sharing their inspiring story of love and dedication. Thank you to MHFF for this advocacy opportunity, and to CAL volunteers and caregivers for their unwavering support and commitment!
Comments