Mindset raises over S$375,000 for mental health

Singapore

THE Mindset Challenge & Carnival 2018 raised over S$375,000 for the Mindset Learning Hub (MLH), one of the nine centres under Singapore Association for Mental Health.

MLH is Singapore's first and only job training centre that provides Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) and non-WSQ courses for mental health persons-in-recovery. In addition, MLH also provides job placement opportunities for persons-in-recovery to reintegrate into society through employment.

At the event on Oct 28, more than 280 participants raced up 33 floors of Marina Bay Financial Centre, Tower 1, in support of the mental health community in Singapore. Some 30 mental health persons-in-recovery and caregivers also took part by climbing five floors to raise awareness and fight social stigma.

Mindset's chairman Alex Newbigging, who is group managing director of Jardine Cycle & Carriage, said, "We believe everyone should be given his or her opportunity in society. At Jardines, we have been providing job opportunities for mental health persons-in-recovery within our 19 businesses in Singapore. Since 2011, we have placed close to 150 mental health clients in jobs within the group. We have also donated over S$5 million towards various mental health programmes. We hope that more firms will support inclusivity and the integration of mental health persons-in-recovery in the workplace."

The guest-of-honour was Amrin Amin, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of Health, who climbed five floors in support of mental health.

Benjamin Kheng from local band The Sam Willows scaled 33 floors. Mr Kheng said: "The work that Mindset does is incredibly important, especially for such a time as this. Many people are being increasingly vocal about their mental or neurological disorders, and as someone who suffered from such conditions in the past, I'm very glad to be part of the conversation."

Some 2,200 attendees were present at the Mindset Carnival, including 250 mental health clients.

At the carnival, Mindset Learning Hub's own café, MLH Café, set up a booth selling their signature drinks to all attendees. MLH Café has been operational since June 2017 and employs mental health persons-in-recovery who are undergoing the food preparation WSQ course.

Since June 2017, about 18 PIRs have been trained or are undergoing training at MLH Cafe.

Tan Wen Xiang, senior occupational therapist, said: "We provide traineeship opportunities for mental health persons-in-recovery at the MLH Café to give them first-hand experience working in an operational F&B establishment. PIRs prepare and serve food and drinks.

"They also interact and serve customers, which gives them more confidence in future employment after they complete training and traineeship at Mindset Learning Hub."