One in six Singaporeans struggle with their mental health. Why are we still so quiet about it?

October 10th is World Mental Health Day, a day that reminds us to pause and reflect. For me, it’s not just about shining a light on the challenges people face, but also about asking: what can we each do, every single day, to build the strength we need to face life? It can’t just be one glorious day of lip service. We need deeper, actionable steps to remind ourselves of.

In Singapore, the numbers are worrying. One in six adults has experienced a mental health condition, and yet most never seek help. Among our young people, nearly one in four struggles with poor mental health. These aren’t just statistics – they are our colleagues, our children, our friends, and sometimes ourselves. I’ve worked with many young people who still don’t even have the courage to share how they feel with their parents.

I don’t think there is a world without hardship. But I do believe there is a world where we can find ways to face it – not perfectly, but with a little more confidence. And for me, that has always come from the smallest things, done consistently.

I’m a creature of habit, and routine is what gives me balance. Each morning before I jump out of bed, I take a few deep breaths and set a quiet intention for my day. Some days it’s as simple as, “Be present with my children tonight.” Other days, it’s “Take a few deep breaths before a difficult conversation at work.” That moment, before the world rushes in, helps me step into the day with purpose and positivity.

Even my first sip of coffee is a ritual – slowing down, being mindful, and giving thanks for that moment. Movement is another constant. Whether it’s yoga, a walk outside, or a workout, I know I’m a better version of myself when I’ve moved my body. And when I step out into fresh air, even just for a short walk, I feel my thoughts clear and my energy shift. It’s the simplest reset I know, backed by science that small changes can have profound impacts on well-being.
Then there are the connections. We live in a world where it’s easy to scroll for hours and yet feel more alone than ever. So I try to use those small in-between moments – sitting in a taxi, waiting for a meeting – to reach out to someone. A quick “thinking of you” to a loved one not only lifts them, it lifts me too. Let’s try ditching the aimless social media scroll for genuine little connections.

Through my work with Getting To Happy, I’ve seen how families, kids, and adults all benefit from tiny tools that create consistency and joy. In our home, we sometimes do a family check-in at dinner; each of us shares one good thing and one challenge from the day. With my kids, we’ve kept a gratitude jar, filling it with notes and drawings. For mothers I coach, it can be as small as taking a five-minute pause to breathe or step outside. And even something like a digital detox hour at night – phones down, real connection up – helps shift the energy in a household and often improves sleep, which in turn changes how you show up the next day.

And then there are the reminders that aren’t about doing, but about being. Practising positive self-talk when the inner critic is loud. Reminding myself that it’s okay to have bad days, and that not every day has to feel okay. Remembering that no one is perfect, and that the goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress, kindness, and consistency.

None of these things erase the hard days. But they give us an invisible strength, a foundation to lean on when things feel heavy. And that’s something I hear often in conversations with friends, clients, and people I meet through my work – that the challenges may look different, but the feelings underneath are the same.

One conversation that stayed with me was with my friend Sarissa Rodriguez-Schwartz, co-founder & CEO of SJS Group, who shared how she navigated her lowest moment. Her story struck me as a powerful reminder of resilience:

“My lowest point was during Covid. When all of my businesses suddenly shut down, I was terrified, not just about the losses, but about the complete lack of control over any outcomes. That fear paralysed me beyond what was useful for actually addressing my businesses. I coped the only way I knew how: working frantically to stay three steps ahead, feeding off anxiety rather than clarity.

But that moment became a catalyst for years of reflection. It’s only recently that I’ve truly understood what I can ‘do about it’, and ironically, it’s about doing less forcing and more trusting. I’ve come to see that my outside world reflects my subconscious beliefs. On a grand scale, I am in control, but I also am not.

There’s a paradox there that used to terrify me and now brings peace when in practice. Giving it up to the universe, and accepting that I might be redirected to a path that actually suits me better than the one I was clinging to. That’s been the shift.”

I love Sarissa’s honesty because it reminds us that strength doesn’t always come from pushing harder. Sometimes, it comes from surrender, from trusting the process, and from allowing ourselves to be redirected.

That’s the heart of World Mental Health Day for me: learning to face uncertainty with compassion, and remembering that even in our lowest points, there is space for growth and renewal.

World Mental Health Day doesn’t need to be just one date on the calendar. It can be a reminder that every day – in the way we breathe, walk, talk to ourselves, connect, and give thanks – we are building resilience. And maybe, just maybe, that’s how we create a world that feels a little lighter, not only for ourselves but for the people around us.

Shireena Shroff Manchharam is a Her World Tribe member, the founder and principal consultant of Sheens Consulting, and the founder and creator of Getting To Happy, a mental health movement to inspire our community and society to live happier, more mindful lives.