Last week, I had the privilege of sitting on the panel for Third Man Syndrome, a production by
@gatewayarts_sg that asks one haunting question:
“Why did you jump?”
The play follows Albert as he tries to make sense of his best friend Erwin’s suicide. Erwin had everything - talent, love, success. Yet, Albert is left chasing shadows, searching for answers that may never come.
Sitting in the theatre, I felt that question hit me harder than I expected.
I’ve lost friends to suicide. I’ve grieved those taken too young, and I’ve lived through my own battles with depression and anxiety. That single question-why?-echoes in the silence of loss.
The cast carried that silence with such honesty. Their performances were raw and unforgettable, bringing grief, love, and unanswered questions to life in a way that moved me deeply.
On the panel, I shared how I sought help when I finally accepted that what I was going through wasn’t “just me.” I could wear a smile outside, but at home my emotions overflowed. I turned to self-harm, struggled with sleep, and felt my body telling me something was wrong.
What saved me was family, who noticed, who listened, who made time every day to remind me I wasn’t alone.
And that’s the message I left with the audience:
💡 There is no harm in getting yourself checked.
💡 Listening to your mind and body is not weakness, it’s wisdom.
💡 At the end of the day, we are all human, and our differences should never be dismissed.
Thank you to Gateway Arts,
@samaritansofsingapore , the incredible cast, and fellow panelists for creating such a brave, necessary space. The grief we carry doesn’t vanish, but when stories are told and voices are heard, it can transform into connection. And that is where healing begins.
Thank you to my family and
@nr_hmzh for being that to support me🥹
