From The Straits Times    |
samantha lee

samantha lee

Photo: YouTube/Samantha Lee

Former Singapore Idol contestant Samantha Lee died on Dec 22, but her voice and singing lives on.

On Dec 21, she uploaded two videos to her YouTube account. One looks like an old video audition for the Channel 5 reality singing competition The Final 1, where she sang Say Something by A Great Big World.

The second is a lyric music video (MV) of a song she and her brother had written, titled Why Goodbye.

“The song that my brother and I wrote five years ago finally has a lyric MV! Support local music full version on YouTube,” the freelance singer wrote in a Facebook post at 4am on Dec 22.

On that same day at 6pm, Samantha made another Facebook post, one that was in stark contrast in mood to the previous.

“To whom it may concern, I know all of you cared for me. Thanks to all of you who have helped me, I managed to last till now,” Samantha wrote.

“But you couldn’t understand my depression because for you to really understand it, you have to go through it, which I will not wish upon anyone. I do not blame you for that, but I will blame you if you let my release affect your happiness.”

Samantha, who had listed in her Facebook account that she was married, also posted an open letter encouraging victims of domestic violence and mental health issues to seek help.

Later that night, a sombre post on the same Facebook page revealed Samantha had died. Her wake was held on Dec 23 and her ashes would be “scattered to the sea to be a mermaid as she wished”.

Samantha came into the public eye when she was 18 years old, as one of the Top 12 contestants in the third season of Singapore Idol in 2009. The competition was won by Sezairi Sezali.

Her soothing jazzy song Why Goodbye has now clocked more than 3,000 views, while Say Something has more than 2,700 views.

Netizen WiseGuy99 commented on YouTube: “Good voice. Regret to not know her existence before. RIP.”

This story was originally published on Asia One.

 

If you or a loved one is struggling with issues of mental illness, suicidal thoughts and substance abuse, please seek help at the following:

Suicide prevention: 

Samaritans of Singapore at 1800 221 4444

Counselling:

Youth Line at 6336 3434

Touch Line at 1800 377 2252

Tinkle Friend (For primary school students) at 1800 2744 4788

Sexual health: 

Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Control (AIDS and STI) Helplines at 1800 252 1324

Action for AIDS Singapore at 6254 0212

Mental illness:

Institute of Mental Health Helpline at 6389-2000

Singapore Association for Mental Health at 1800 283 7019

Emergency Helpline (IMH) at 6389 2222

Eating Disorders Helpline, SGH at 1800 283 7019

Substance abuse: 

Smoking QuitLine at 1800 438 2000

Alcoholics Anonymous at 6475 0890

SANA Hotline at 1800 733 4444

National Addictions Management Service (NAMS) at 6732 6837 (6-RECOVER)

WE CARE Community Services at 6547 5459

AWARE helplines:

Women’s Helpline at 1800 777 5555

Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC) helpline at 6779 0282

 

These information are taken from Healthhub under the Ministry of Health and AWARE. 

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