Nicholas Gabriel - Author, Entrepreneur, Psychologist & Mentor

21/02/2026

Glad to be able to contribute to this discussion ahead of the upcoming COMPASS Symposium at SJI International on the 26 March.

https://www.caritas-singapore.org/compass/

[Post Broadcast]

Below are some of the points shared during the delightful conversation with the programme host.

Thank you Susan Ng for the invitation to share, and always putting the spotlight on families and youths through this programme on Family Ties!

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🎙️ Our Youths: Silent Struggles, Real Hope

Young people in Singapore can be considered high-achieving, at the same time responsible, and highly aware of expectations. They show up. They perform. They try to “be okay.”

But beneath the surface, some are struggling quietly.

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🌱 The Silent Struggles

The adolescent brain is highly emotional and reward-sensitive, while judgment and impulse control are still maturing. This means:

* Big feelings
* Strong need to belong
* Limited regulatory capacity

Less visible struggles today include:
* High-functioning anxiety behind good grades
* Burnout from constant performance pressure
* Loneliness despite being digitally connected
* Gaming, va**ng, or substances used to self-soothe

They often go unnoticed because youths still meet expectations, until suddenly, (for some) they don’t.

Today’s complexity is shaped by:
* Academic competition
* Social media comparison
* Global uncertainty
* Easy online exposure to substances
* Rapid digital shifts

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🚩 Early warning signs:
Withdrawal, sleep changes, irritability, secrecy, loss of interest, peer changes, risk-taking.

It’s usually gradual shifts, not one dramatic event.

In Singapore, early help can start with school counsellors, FSCs, CHAT, REACH, or IMH Youth Services. Early intervention makes a real difference.

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🧠 Addiction: Looking Beneath Behaviour

Addiction is not weak character or poor parenting.
It is a brain adaptation.

The adolescent brain is especially sensitive to dopamine and novelty. Beneath addictive behaviours, we often see:
* Coping with anxiety
* Escaping stress
* Numbing pain
* Searching for belonging
* Trying to feel “good enough”

Recovery is rarely linear. It involves setbacks, rebuilding trust, and repairing relationships.

Recovery is also not just abstinence.
It’s rebuilding identity, purpose, and hope.

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👨‍👩‍👧 Families on the Frontline

Parents often cycle through shock, anger, guilt, fear, and exhaustion.

Siblings may feel neglected or confused.

The balance needed: Firm, calm boundaries + emotional warmth.

Psychological safety sounds like: “I love you. I don’t accept this behaviour. We’ll work through this together.”

If you feel stuck, start with your school counsellor, FSC, NAMS, IMH Youth Services, or parent support groups.

Help is available. Stigma is often the biggest barrier.

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🤝 Building Stronger Support

Singapore has strong systems. The key is coordination and early action.

Effective partnership means:
* Teachers spotting early signs
* Counsellors linking families to services
* Professionals collaborating
* Parents treated as partners
* Youth voices included

Our youths are reflective. Many want help, but fear disappointing their families.

Reducing shame and increasing safe conversations at home changes everything.

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💛 A Hopeful Note

The adolescent brain is not broken, it is developing.

With warmth, boundaries, early support, and coordinated care, it can heal and strengthen.

No young person should struggle silently.
And no parent should feel alone.

There is help.
And there is hope.

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You can listen to the Family Ties podcasts here:
https://www.melisten.sg/podcast/playlist/family-ties-2592636

Many youths suffer in silence, but early understanding can change the trajectory of a life. This week on Family Ties, we examine the realities of youth mental health and addiction and explore how families can become a powerful first line of support.

Learn more about The Silent Struggle symposium at https://www.caritas-singapore.org/compass/

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

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

10/02/2026

I am deeply honoured to be appointed to the Panel of Advisors of the Singapore Youth Court for another three-year term.

This appointment is made by the President of the Republic of Singapore and conferred by the Minister for Social and Family Development, a responsibility I accept with humility and a strong sense of duty.

Youth Court Advisors sit in chambers alongside another Advisor, supporting the Presiding Judge by offering perspectives grounded in youth development, psychology, family dynamics, law, education, youth and social work, counseling, and rehabilitation.

The role is not about judgment alone, but about discernment, balance, and hope, ensuring that justice is tempered with understanding, and accountability is paired with opportunity for change.

When carried out with professionalism, excellence, and compassion, the work of Advisors can have a profound impact on young persons at critical turning points in their lives, helping the Court make decisions that protect society while supporting rehabilitation, dignity, and the possibility of a better future.

I am grateful for the trust placed in me and committed to serving the Youth Court, the Bench, and, most importantly, the youths who come before it, with integrity and care.

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10/01/2026

As an adolescent psychologist and President of the Youth Work Association (Singapore), I have spent years walking alongside young people whose struggles are often invisible, yet deeply felt.

In Singapore, youth mental health challenges and addiction do not exist in isolation. When left unaddressed, they ripple across families, schools, and entire communities. That is why I am honoured to be part of the Caritas Singapore COMPASS Symposium, a space created by and for professionals who work with young people every day.

This symposium brings together youth workers, social workers, educators, counsellors, therapists, psychologists, and practitioners across the youth, mental health, and addiction sectors, to reflect, learn, and respond collectively to the realities facing our youths today. Through evidence-based insights, honest dialogue, and cross-sector collaboration, COMPASS aims to turn shared understanding into meaningful impact.

🎤 My panel, “Living the Struggle,” will explore what it truly means for youths to live with addiction or behavioural disorders in Singapore. Alongside one senior practitioners and a former youth addict, we will unpack the lived realities of struggle, recovery, and support, highlighting the systemic gaps, emotional toll, and critical touchpoints that shape a young person’s journey toward healing.

If you work with young people, this is not just another symposium, it is a call to strengthen our collective capacity to care, respond, and advocate more effectively.

👉 Visit the registration site to find out more and register. Let us come together to build a more compassionate, informed, and resilient ecosystem for our young people.



https://www.caritas-singapore.org/compass/

22/11/2025

Glad to be able to support the National Council Against Drug Abuse - NCADA in facilitating conversations with parents, youths, teachers, and the community on the topic of va**ng.

It is increasingly apparent that va**ng is the gateway to drugs consumption, and there may be so many things we are still uncertain or unclear about.

Join in the upcoming Masterclass on Supporting Youth in Va**ng Cessation to find out more.

Join our experts in the legal, medical, addiction and youth work space to:
✅ Understand youth va**ng and etomidate abuse
✅ Explore strategies to support their quitting
✅ Understand the laws on youth va**ng

You may choose to attend either one of the Masterclasses kindly sponsored and supported by RHTLaw Asia, Resilenz Clinic, Amicus Curiae Pcs and SGFamilies.

Run 1
🗓 Masterclass: 27 Nov 2025 | 5.30pm – 8.30pm

Run 2
🗓 Masterclass: 18 Dec 2025 | 5.30pm – 8.30pm

Should parents, teachers and even youth workers or practitioners working with youths like to dive into skills development and or practice, on how to engage youths on va**ng, the following workshops are available at a token fee.

🗓 Workshop Run 1: 3 Dec 2025 | 10am – 4pm

🗓 Workshop Run 2: 22 Dec 2025 | 10am – 4pm

Don’t miss this chance to gain practical insights and tools to support youth! Do share with those interested and those who may need this.

Register Here: https://forms.office.com/r/KeyYs4vQHq

22/11/2025

Fancy seeing so many youths rise and early this morning for "What’s In That Puff? The Truth about Drugs and Kpods", organised by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the National Youth Council (NYC) to engage youths and parents.

Drugs and kpods are obviously still a concern in the community, and I am glad we can engage each other like this openly, to understand each other, the current trends, know about the resources and support available, and in general just to be educated or informed from different perspective - relationship, law, medical, social science, government, etc.

I found out some of the following:-

Rising numbers overall reported in 2024.
- 2% increase from 2023 on arrests of drug abusers
- New drug abusers rose by 5%
- Repeat abusers remained high

Most commonly abused drugs.
- Methamphetamine (61%)
- He**in (28%)
- Cannabis (6%)

Youth at increasing risk.
- Young people (below 30) make up 28% of all arrests.
- Arrests for those below 20 increased by 25%.
- Over half of all new abusers (54%) were under 30.
- New abusers below 20 jumped by 38%.

These show something - Exposure and vulnerability are rising among our youth.

Changing attitudes toward drugs
- 90% of youths think drug abuse should remain illegal, this is lower than adults (96%).
- 79% of youths feel cannabis should remain illegal.
- Social media, global narratives, and peer influence may be normalizing these substances.

THERE IS HOPE. The numbers in attendance - youths and parents - show that we are interested to address this. We can most definitely do it one step at a time, and together!

Family conversations make a difference.

Among youths who talked to their parents or guardians about drugs, from a 2023 national perception survey, 91.7% said it deterred them from trying.

Our voice matters more than we think. So let's start with one conversation at a time. I am glad this forum with Dr Charles, Boon, MOS Mdm Rahayu Mahzam and myself are able to get this going for MCCY-NYC.

LET'S START THE CONVERSATION TODAY.

Talk to your children, your teens, your students, your peers. Stay informed, stay engaged, and protect the next generation from the growing risks of drug misuse.

Together, we can keep our youth safe.

04/11/2025

This past weekend was one filled with hope and joy. The other reason was because I spent it with a lot of men talking and learning about all things man!

Hopeful that many men also take their lives and well-being seriously. Joyful because I am not alone on this journey of growing old as a man for myself, my family, my wife and my children.

I also specifically shared about the topic "Man! You Were Not Born for P**n", my neuroscience-informed reflection on love, the brain and the modern man.

It sure looked like I managed to "turn-on" the men! 🤣 And I am glad I did. I took a couple of months to research and prepare for my topic.

True to my findings, the men at the FoRM II Conference were listening intently about what I found from brain research the impact of p**n on our brains, and how it would affect us men. Many men around the world responded in similar fashion and some even took serious action against the use of p**n.

This also gave me hope because if men can take this seriously, I know their lives would turn around for the better, because relationships with people who matters in their lives would improve, and they would be happier, more satisfied and real about their own lives.

This also brought so much joy to me as men's lives with children, teens, and spouses would be improved significantly, as the researches would suggest.

Here's the summary of what I shared last weekend. Grateful that Amicus was willing to allow me to share on their platform.

https://www.amicuscuriaepcs.com/man-you-were-not-born.../

**n

03/11/2025

This past weekend was one filled with hope and joy. One of the reason was because we launched our GGMobile truck at The Shelter Company for the first time!

It truly was a remarkable journey, transforming an initial idea into a tangible reality. It was a collaborative effort, with various stakeholders contributing their unique expertise, dedication and effort going above and beyond to materialise this fully.

To me, there is so much hope because in this dark world we live in today, these individuals and organisations brought light.

And those who will now benefit from this tangible reality of help, support and social intervention, brings joy because their world will likely be a better place to live and be.

Look forward to it spreading the hope and joy to everyone it reaches!


IMDA Singapore Pools Samsung Electronics Singapore Logitech G AFTERSHOCK PC Josephine Teo Rahayu Mahzam

GGMobile, Singapore’s First Gaming Live Stream Studio in a Truck with GGLife Goes on an Islandwide Tour in 2026 to schools and public spaces

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. ...