The basic human right that concerns me the most, is one that isn’t often brought out to the public eye. It isn’t the issue of child slavery, a concept that while disturbing, seems so foreign to us, living inside this sheltered bubble that is Singapore.
It isn’t the issue of people lacking the freedom of speech either. Every year, activists around the world are put in prison for speaking their mind, sharing their opinion. Raised in Singapore, a country where censorship, and restrictions on what one can say, exist, I am opinionated on the issue, to say the least. Advocating for more options and freedom to express oneself, actions that take up several hours of my week.
But, the issue that concerns me the most, is the issue of mental health. According to an article in the Guardian, despite there being an even greater public awareness about the issue, there still exist several “inadequacies … how we care for and treat mental health patients”. What is particularly shocking, is that this article was referencing the situation in the UK, a highly developed MEDC that is much more likely to have the resources to deal with this issue than a country experiencing high rates of poverty. If this is the case in a country like the UK, what is the case in countries that are not as well developed, LEDCs such as Cambodia?
Having faced depression myself, and being fortunate enough to have plenty of support, with access to an experienced counselor, the possibility that there are those facing the problems I have faced, without the kind of support I received, honestly frightens me.
I feel that what you have written is greatly moving and is understandable on a personal level. I agree with you on the fact that there may not be adequate ways of treating people that have issues with their mental health. One other thing that helped to put your message across was the way you related yourself to this issue. I believe that the way you got through this emphasises on how important help from other people is.