Singapore – Youthline, a charity that provides youth mental health assistance, and PleaseStay Movement, a non-profit suicide advocacy group, have started an initiative to shed light on the deep and long-term consequences of youth suicide. Titled ‘The Rooms That Remain’, this effort was implemented in conjunction with MullenLowe Singapore.
As part of the initiative, “The Rooms That Remain” was released, which reconstructs the bedrooms of three young Singaporeans who sadly committed suicide. These private areas, which are brought to life by the memories that their families have preserved, provide a moving window into the lives and legacies of these cherished young people.
From June 24 to June 30, the show is on display in the Wisma Atria retail centre in Singapore.
Visitors can also have a more profound comprehension of the true narratives of these figures and the catastrophic consequences for the bereaved families by entering these reconstructed rooms. A webpage with digital copies of the rooms complements the real display.
Online users are able to explore these areas and learn more about the private histories of the people who inhabit the rooms. The website will also include details on pro-bono counselling and a live mental health helpline, as well as information on how to access Youthline’s mental health resources.
This program is supported by a number of partners, including The Merry Men Works, whose aim is to create experience spaces for meaningful encounters and has played a role in bringing the rooms to life. In addition, New Charis Movers offers reliable packing services to assist families in finding closure following the loss of a loved one.
Talking about the initiative, Valerie Lim, co-founder of PleaseStay Movement, said, “Talking about suicide is heart-wrenching and difficult. However, meaningful conversations need to happen to help clarify and dispel fear about suicide among the wider public, and more importantly, build collective compassion and break the stigma which survivor-families face. ‘The Rooms that Remain’ is an open platform that offers a safe manner to broach the subject of suicide. Through these living spaces, we are invited to appreciate the lives of youths who had sadly succumbed to suicide. Here, we can ponder or discover how mental health affects us all and that, ultimately, we have a shared responsibility to look out for each other.”
Meanwhile, Marc Khoo, chairman of Youthline, stated, “The alarming rates of suicide among youths and the rise in proportion of youths in distress in Singapore calls for greater awareness, support, and collaboration across the community. Our goal is to provide a listening ear and effective support to young people who are struggling, as early as possible — and we aim to do so in the most accessible way. By creating a safe, non-judgmental space for youths to address their struggles, we hope to rein in mental health challenges before they become acute and inch closer to a future where no youth feels alone.”
