15/10/2014
Here is an interview one of our team members, Nisha, did with Gladys Chan, an STFP advocate.
Gladys has just been recently crowned as the first runner-up of the Ms Singapore pageant, and you can follow her here at her page: https://www.facebook.com/misssingaporegladyschan
Nisha: Hi Gladys! Before anything else, congratulations on your outstanding achievements at the recent Ms Singapore pageant! You've been crowned as the first runner-up as well as Miss Congeniality! How do you feel about your win?
Gladys: Thanks for the congratulations! I am really happy about my win and at first I joined without expecting to win anything. All I wanted to do was gain more experience and try something new and hence the win was super unexpected. But it opened me up to a whole new world.
Nisha: I am sure being in a beauty pageant is not as easy as it seems. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them during your journey in the Ms Singapore pageant?
Gladys: I faced many challenges such as stresses from preparing for my talent component and managing my studies, dance and this pageant all at the same time. Furthermore, it is difficult because there are times I feel I'm not pretty enough or tall enough, that society place a value on who we are. I was afraid that when people knew I had depression and anxiety before, I would not even stand a chance. Though my aim was not to win, I thought it would really mean something if I achieved something, to show people that anyone, if confident enough and not afraid of standing up for themselves, they definitely can achieve something.
Nisha: During the pageant, you had voiced your passion to be an advocate for persons with mental illnesses. How did the pageant organizers and your fellow contestants react to your disclosure about your adjustment disorder and your interest in advocacy?
Gladys: Surprisingly my fellow contestants were really nice towards me and they did not treat me any differently despite knowing about my condition. Some of the pageant organisers felt that my cause was really relevant in the society because people have been facing many stresses recently, and many more people are developing anxiety, which is highly distressing.
Nisha: There was also an article in the New Paper about the Ms Singapore contestants, and in that article you had talked about your diagnosis and wanting to advocate for mental health issues as well. How did you feel doing that interview, and what were your thoughts when you saw your story published in a paper that would be read by so many people you may not know?
Gladys: When I was interviewed, I was really hesitant at first. I stumbled and was not sure what I was doing. But I was advocating for destigmatisation of mental issues. I told myself 'if I can be so afraid to even voice out or mention about my condition, it would totally contradict my advocacy'. I felt that I should be honest and accept myself for who I am, so I took that big step. When the article was published, I was quite shocked and teared for reasons I'm unsure of. I got afraid that now that so many people knew about my condition, they would treat me differently and I got so distressed over it. I was afraid that people didn't feel like I should be a Miss Singapore with my condition. But my family and boyfriend supported me and showed me that I only need to learn how to accept and love myself, and i only have myself to answer to.
Nisha: What is your key takeaway from your Ms Singapore journey?
Gladys: My key takeaway is be yourself and people will love you. most of the time, it is society that place certain standards on us. I didn't love myself enough before and always felt very inferior. However, you don't have to answer to others because the life you're living is yours only and you should make every moment count. If people do not like you, it is not your fault (even if you do wanna keep them as friends). Cut off the people who are toxic and hold on tightly to those who are sincere to you. :)
Nisha: What do you think is the state of mental illness stigmatization in Singapore and in the world today?
Gladys: I think the stigmatisation issue in Singapore is really bad. Many people still do not know how to deal with people with mental issues or conditions and some even believe that these people can't recover, even though mental conditions are just like physical conditions. If people in Singapore showed more care and concern, it would make Singapore a much better place. In the world today, especially in such an open generation, I think more and more people are accepting the destigmatisation of mental issues, however I think more awareness should be raised, esp to the older generation, with some still believing in some of the myths of mental issues.
Nisha: When you tell someone about your mental illness, what range of reactions do you usually receive in response to your disclosure? Are they any particularly helpful or unhelpful reactions that you think people should know about so that they can better respond to someone who discloses their mental illness?
Gladys: Usually when I mention about it, people will get really quiet, I guess because they didn't know I been through a lot of stuff and sometimes through their body language, you can tell they are unsure of what to say. I think the best way you can help someone with a mental issue is not by showing pity but showing concern and then treating them as per normal because we are all still humans. We are not defined by our conditions and by interacting with them like how you always used to, shows that you are not stereotyping people with mental issues or pitying them.
Nisha: What problems or shortcomings do you see and wish to target as a mental health advocate in Singapore? What do you think can be done or should be done to address these areas?
Gladys: Some of the problems are the myths and attitudes that people have about mental issues. We should debunk some of these myths and raise awareness at the same time. Furthermore, people these days prefer exciting and interesting ways to show their support, such as through social media and we should make use of instagram and competitions to grab people's attention.
Nisha: How can we be of support and help to someone with mental illness? What advice would you give from the point of view as a mental health advocate?
Gladys: Some ways you can be of help is to firstly, not ignore someone with a mental issue and be more understanding. They do not need more space to deal with their problems. Instead, they need more support and care and it does not have to be big things. It can be small things like asking how they are doing or sending them a positive message when you can. I had 3 good friends and my boyfriend who sent me positive messages to keep me going and I felt really touched. I would tell people to not pity those with mental illness and not define them by it. They are only temporarily suffering from it and some patience and understanding can go a long way.
Nisha: Lastly, what does the See The Full PIcture movement mean to you?
Gladys: This movement means alot to me. It helps me to stand out and be proud of myself, to tell people that they should not be afraid to be who they are, and to see the full picture by stepping back and realise that people are always facing difficulties. Sometimes, people don't show it or they hide it really well but a word of concern can be an incredible source of comfort and strength. :)
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Thank you Gladys for being a part of See The Full Picture. Your willingness to share and openness has potentially touched the lives of many others with mental illnesses, and helped to raise awareness about mental health stigmatization. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours!
