We value our independence

YOUTHS today want to assert their independence more than ever before. I am no different.

I have always believed in finding my own solutions to problems, and if the worst happens, I turn to my closest friends for a listening ear.

I do not see the need for an outsider to manage my life and emotions. I also have an impression that counsellors tend to act too righteous and 'neutral'.

I am sure we have heard enough advice from parents and adults throughout our lives. At the age of 20, am I not mature enough to deal with my own life?

Never will the notion of dialling helplines cross my mind, with all that hassle of punching in the numbers and having to explain my problems in detail.

In my junior college, schoolmates who were counselled by teachers were stigmatised by others. This dissuaded some students from seeking professional help.

Perhaps it was an elitist mindset at play. We always thought that top students led problem-free lives.

Anyway, isn't solving problems on our own part of the process of growing up? Gen Y should not appear as wimpy as people perceive them to be.

Nicholas Lim, 20, has a place to read business at Nanyang Technological University.

A shoulder to lean on

WE HAVE lifelines available when we are drowning in despair, helplines being one of them. But at the end of the day, sharing weal and woe with family or close friends always helps the most.

My road to the A levels last year was fraught with struggles in managing friendships and studies.

I tried pouring out my concerns on my blog, but gave it up after getting derisive scoffs and comments from other bloggers.

The virtual world is not one to be taken seriously in seeking help as young people are not perceptive enough to separate fantasy from reality.

We also associate going online with playing games or making idle chat rather than seeking good counsel.

Seeking help from a stranger through helplines would be the last thing I would do, as I am not prepared to accept advice from people who do not understand my personality.

Thankfully, I got back on track after confiding my worst fears in people I trusted - my teachers, peers and pastor.

When it comes to the crunch, I'm certain many youths like me would want a physical shoulder to lean on.

Jonathan Liautrakul, 19, has a place to read arts and social sciences at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

We need the personal touch

I THINK the personal touch is immeasurably more comforting and effective than words on a screen or over the phone.

Have you ever felt that during times of great distress, the thing you want most is not a speech but perhaps just a hug or the listening ear of a friend?

I have found that sharing your troubles face to face with a friend who cares and does not judge can be a cathartic experience. The mere presence of another human being is often a source of comfort.

Studies have shown that the bulk of our thoughts and feelings are communicated through our body language, not just our words. Counsellors therefore need to personally interact with their wards to accurately guide them.

Perhaps the way to reach more youths today is not to fall in with the paradoxical growth of isolation in an increasingly online world, but rather raise awareness of the availability of personal counselling sessions.

Joel Lian, 21, is a first-year arts and social sciences student at NUS.

Help from online support groups

THREE years ago, I suffered from depression.

Instead of seeking professional help, I withdrew into myself and became a recluse despite the combined efforts of family and friends.

I also found my university counsellor, a middle-aged woman, far too stodgy and out of touch with my views and feelings.

There's also some stigma attached to getting help. To many, it is tantamount to admitting that you are too emotional and weak. Going to the school counsellor's office caused my self-esteem to dip even further.

Then a friend directed me to several online support groups.

It might have seemed a cowardly way to deal with my problems, but it was effective.

Hiding behind a veil of anonymity enabled me to vent my troubles, instead of letting them fester.

With my online monicker, I wasn't afraid of people judging me and I poured out my heart more readily. That enabled me to recover.

I believe more helplines should shift online to reach out to youth - in spite of the impersonal nature of the Internet.

They could set up and moderate online forums which can function as autonomous self-help and support groups, without the need and disincentive of face-to-face contact.

Kym Ng, 21, a recent graduate, now works as an assistant production editor.

Promote service aggressively

I HAD not heard of helplines while growing up in Singapore.

But when I went to Australia five years ago, I found that youth-friendly toll-free helplines were constantly advertised on television, promoting their numbers for issues like suicide and depression.

These services are also promoted in schools and on billboards at malls. Moreover, they emphasise the confidentiality and non-judgmental nature of these services.

It is heartening to know that such services are actively involved in public advertising and education.

Singapore can promote helplines more aggressively at schools and malls where youths frequent.

This creates greater awareness of the services available, and also reassures youth of the Government's sincerity to help and listen to those in need.

Tabitha Mok, 23, is a fifth-year medical student at the University of Western Australia.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.