Caregivers Alliance launches mental health awareness campaign

Singapore

CAREGIVERS Alliance Limited (CAL), a non-profit organisation, has launched a fundraising campaign to raise awareness about mental health and to highlight the challenges of caregiving for people with mental health issues.

The campaign, launched on Monday and called "Walk for Mental Wellness", taps on the Tote Board's Enhanced Fundraising Programme and aims to raise at least S$250,000 via a dollar-for-dollar matching from the government.

The initiative involves several prominent personalities in Singapore as mental wellness champions.

They include Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin, member of parliament Murali Pillai, ex-nominated MP Anthea Ong, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital CEO Chua Hong Choon and CAL co-founder and former Singapore Exchange chief Hsieh Fu Hua.

Several organisations such as HSBC, Deutsche Bank, the National Council of Social Service, the Institute of Mental Health and the Agency for Integrated Care are also on board.

Also supporting the campaign are actor Adrian Pang and national athlete Constance Lien, a mental health advocate who became Singapore's first jiu-jitsu world champion despite an eating disorder.

"Through this campaign, we wish to shine the spotlight on caregiving, with the aim to enable greater empathy for our 'hidden heroes' " said CAL executive director Tim Lee.

"We hope our efforts contribute towards destigmatising the topic of mental illness, and move us towards a place of inclusivity, understanding and acceptance of people with mental health issues and the people caring for them."

The campaign brings the mental wellness champions and advocates together as they rally the public to donate towards their walk.

Based on the idea of "You Donate, They Walk", the campaign encourages donors to channel their donations to the mental wellness champion of their choice.

Every S$100 raised will translate to 1km of walking or running. The mental wellness champion will have to cover the equivalent distance to match the donation amount, and are given four weeks - from Apr 17 to May 16 - to complete their distance.

Donors can track their champion's progress via the chart on the campaign website (https://www.cal4mentalwellness.sg/).

As part of a social media challenge, CAL is also encouraging the public to go on a 1km walk as well.

Those who wish to participate can make a donation and tag a friend using the hashtag #W4MWChallenge to inform them they have been nominated to walk. The friend will then have to walk 1km, after which they can nominate the next person.

"Walking is a great way to destress and give your brain a break," said CAL's Mr Lee. "This is also a great chance to check in with a friend that you haven't heard from in a while and invite them to go for a walk together."