The World of Caregiving

Elizabeth has been a caregiver since she was young, looking after two siblings: a brother bedridden with physical and mental disabilities due to autism, and a younger sister who suffered from schizophrenia since her late teens. It has not been easy for her, and the amount of commitment she dedicated to her role as a caregiver is astounding. Yet more awe-inspiring is how she is able to radiate positivity after a lifetime of caregiving, declaring to others, "Let us not lose hope, but continue to be empathetic towards our loved ones and to journey with them through their struggles and pain."

Evelyn had many struggles in coming to grips with her son's OCD. The mental health condition caused not only her relationship with her son to be affected, but severely tested her bond with her husband as well. Since she could not understand the illness, she went on a process of gaining more knowledge and skills, and it was during this time that she encountered CAL. She benefited a lot from the lessons she learnt during the C2C programme, but she wishes she learned about mental health earlier. Because of this, she now helps others to learn and receive the equipping they need to cope as caregivers.

Zalifah has always had a desire to help others, but first she needed help to change her attitude towards mental health before she could support her loved one. The C2C programme caused her to become much more empathetic to those suffering from mental health issues, leading her to reach out even to friends struggling with depression as well. She is now a passionate volunteer for various causes, alongside being a caregiver, and she notes that helping others is in fact helping oneself. From others’ experiences, she has learned to become less judgemental, more understanding, more empathetic and more patient, especially to those in need.