How often do you see patients with mental health challenges in your clinic?
If everyone could be in the shoes of a family doctor for a day, they would see how common mental health issues are. They can affect everyone from children to the elderly – I see at least two to three patients per day who are currently struggling with, or have had mental health issues in the past. Despite all the awareness efforts that have been focused on mental health in the past years, it is still very taboo. It shouldn’t be! Suffering from mental health issues is no more shameful or a sign of weakness than being diagnosed with diabetes or high blood pressure.

What are the most common mental health issues you see in expats?
In Singapore, the most common mental health issues are depression and anxiety. For expats, things like the stress of relocating to a new country, being away from family and friends, changing jobs or having to stop working to follow a spouse, and having to settle the kids in a new routine, can take a toll on mental health. I also see a lot of teenagers with anxiety or depression triggered by intense pressure to perform in international schools, best friends leaving the country, or bullying.

What support is available for someone suffering from depression?
Having an open chat with your family doctor can go a long way, and we can give you useful lifestyle advice and do basic blood work to rule out a physical cause and even prescribe medication if needed. Singapore has amazing psychologists and counsellors that can support you on your road to recovery as well. Psychiatrists can help navigate more complex and severe cases.

What is your advice to someone suffering from depression?
If you are experiencing some of the symptoms of depression, you should talk to your family doctor. We are a great first step on the road to recovery. If making an appointment with your doctor feels like a huge task, reach out to a loved one and ask them to help you and bring you to the appointment. Depression can feel like it is untreatable and will never end, but there are many effective treatments, and by seeking help you are making the first step towards recovery, and eventually happiness and contentment.

Signs you might be experiencing depression
Everyone can experience days of feeling blue, due to homesickness or other life ups and downs. But depression is characterised by symptoms that are present for at least two weeks and can include:

– Depressed mood most of the day, every day (feeling sad or empty, being tearful)
– Loss of interest in activities that you normally enjoy
– Changes in appetite and sleep pattern (either insomnia or sleeping more than usual)
– Loss of energy or fatigue
– Feelings of guilt or worthlessness, difficulty thinking or concentrating, and recurrent thoughts about death and suicide.

Dr Méli Noël is based at IMC Jelita imc-healthcare.com

A bird in the hand
Our first stop is Mr Teng’s birdcage store – Cage Making 159 – in Ang Mio Kio. We gather around his small workspace, surrounded by richly decorated bamboo cages of all shapes, colours and designs. This self-taught cage maker uses heat to bend and shape the bamboo strands, adding silk sunshades made by his wife, and carving intricate designs into the wooden embellishments. Mr Teng’s passion began as a young boy and he’s spent his life perfecting his trade. Mr Teng hopes to keep his family business alive; his 12 year old grandson has shown some interest in the trade.
Mr Teng adores the birds – also acting as a bird sitter, birdsong judge and trainer. He feeds the pampered animals a mix of ginseng and cod liver oil, to strengthen their vocal cords for competition. He ensures the birds are surrounded by other feathered friends, saying; “if birds are lonely they will die of heartsickness.”
The adjacent Kebun Baru Birdsinging Club is Singapore’s largest public area to admire the sweet tones of competitive birdsong. There are over 400 poles in the peaceful green space – each bird sings from cages hanging from them. There are three categories on which the bird is judged: amplification, melody and pitch. The top performing birds cost a pretty penny – up to SGD$100,000.

A sticky business
A visit to Tay Guan Heng uncovers a centuries-old method of making giant joss sticks and other festive decorations. Albert Tay shows us around the small manufacturing factory in Ang Mio Kio Industrial Park, demonstrating moulding techniques, and letting us handle the clay. “We’re one of the only joss stick makers in Singapore, still producing our sticks by hand,” says Tay. “We have been here for 100 years.” The joss sticks are burnt to give thanks to the Gods and protect families, and are often decorated with neon spray paint, fierce dragons and Chinese characters. The clay is made from a wild cinnamon tree wood powder. Once shaped, the sticks dry in the sun for up to four days.
The giant joss sticks take around 12-14 hours to burn, and are popular around the Seventh Month Festival in Singapore, as well as other religious periods. One of eight children, Tay grew up around the business, learning the tricks of the trade, but times are changing. “This is a dying trade,” he laments. “Joss sticks used to be made 14-16 feet tall, and were in high demand. That’s not the case any more.”

If the shoe fits
Our final stop is in the Chinatown area, at Lee Hoi Wah Shoes. Mr Lee runs a small bespoke shoe store from an HDB (Block 9, Jalan Kukoh #03-73) He measures his customer’s feet precisely, hand cuts the leather, then stitches and crafts the shoes in exacting detail. He’s even made shoes for Singapore’s founding PM, Lee Kuan Yew. “This shop has been here since 1951,” says Mr Lee. “My father was also a shoemaker. Each pair of shoes takes three to-six months to create and costs a minimum of SGD$500. “This trade is no more,” says Mr Lee. “The new generation isn’t interested. It’s happening here, and in Europe, too.” Still, when we are in Mr Lee’s store, his customers continue to turn up, keen to obtain a one-of-a-kind pair of shoes from a master shoemaker.

As our tour comes to a close, I notice a trio of giant joss sticks smouldering in the HDB void deck. I take a moment to quietly appreciate their beautiful, handcrafted design, and hope Singapore’s ancient trades endure as long as possible.

ANZA Tours runs regular excursions to all corners of Singapore, uncovering its hidden treasures. Book here: anza.org.sg/tours

Expat life can be lonely, even if you have your family with you for support. Imagine arriving alone, having left your children and family behind to move in with strangers. That’s the reality for most domestic helpers in Singapore. Recognising that sports and teamwork can help build a community and provide a much-needed support network, Filipina expat Dinx Carin and some of her friends founded a volleyball league for Filipinas in Singapore. “We had a vision to unite foreign workers, especially domestic helpers, in staying active, gaining new friends, relieving stress and promoting health, happiness and positivity by playing volleyball.”

Fulfilling and fun

The league, called SportsatSG, holds matches every Sunday, usually at Kallang’s OCBC arena. Since beginning in 2015 with a handful of teams, it now has between 24 and 42 teams each season, in three divisions. Of the more than 400 players, 80% are domestic helpers.

When the league first started, Carin had no idea how popular it would become. “At the beginning, it was just a project for passion, to make a difference. Foreign workers, especially maids, get lonely, get stressed, and need some friends. It helps them to be active, it really refreshes body, mind and soul. Some of our players even have their employers come to watch and support their game. It is so fulfilling.”

Carin and the organising committee make sure the league is a fun place for the ladies to spend their only day off. “We take lots of pictures, with videos and selfies posted on our social media. They show it to their families back home, updating them on what kind of activities they are involved in here in Singapore during their off day.”

To get involved, prospective players can send a message via the SportsatSG Facebook page. Individuals are matched with a team looking for players. For those who want to register a new team, the cost is around $400.

Like any community-run sports league, funding is a constant challenge. Although the registration fees contribute to the arena booking fees, it can be difficult to book the venue. “We’d like to block-book the OCBC arena to make sure we can play there every week but it’s expensive. So we do ad-hoc bookings and have to compete for slots with many other people who want to use the stadium. We’ve tried other venues but they are mainly outdoors and it’s too hot.”

The organisers are trying to get more sponsors involved to supply prizes and sponsor the end-of-season medal ceremony. Some past sponsors have also supplied products as giveaways for the players. “Because it’s an all-girl league, we had a company supply feminine hygiene products for the teams. Those items
can be expensive so the girls were really pleased.”

Smashing stereotypes

Filipino Jen Macapagal has the goal of making sports in Singapore more inclusive and accessible to helpers through her movement Race2Share. Currently, R2S works very closely with foreign domestic workers – with the aim to empower them through sports.
What results have you seen both in and out of the boat?
The ladies have been heavily involved in dragon boating since April last year, and I have seen their interests translate into habits, and habits into passion. Their involvement has improved their fitness and confidence levels. Despite having only Sunday as their day off, most of them use their time to train. Even on holidays, they are keen to participate in workout sessions. They also participate in marathon races (5km, 10km, 15km, 21km and 42km), and obstacle course racing like OCR and Spartan.
Does it also encourage social ties?
Yes, most of the sisters who train with us say it helps ease their homesickness and anxiety from being away from their families back home. It also provides a safe space to spend time with friends. We also organise non-training events such as barbecue gatherings.
What’s next?
The Standard Chartered Marathon race in December to raise funds for a local school in the Philippines.
How can people support Race2Share?
By volunteering their time to train our members or financially support/sponsor our members to be able to partake in various local races.
race2share.org

Where’s home in NZ?
A farming community called Stratford in the province of Taranaki in the North Island. I’m coming up to twenty years living in Singapore.

Tell us about Home-To-Home.
I started the journey on 3 January, 2017 and expected to be finished by December 2017. I travelled 10,000km by human power for 147 days to reach the east of Australia. My attempt to row the final stage across the Tasman Sea ended after 24 days at sea when I was blown back into the shores of Australia with adverse wind patterns.

What training have you done?
I trained and prepared for four years before the expedition took place. Physical training was 10 percent of the entire effort. With a budget of SGD$400,000, raising sponsorship, planning, forming a team, risk management, emergency response, boat building and food preparation all took a massive effort.

What’s been the greatest challenge?
As I’m almost finished the journey, I can say that human beings have been the greatest challenge. Navigating the complex web of human emotions, my own self-doubts, man-made restrictions and regulations, and large ships plying the waters. Apart from that, it’s the wind; everything in ocean rowing depends on the wind.

How do you keep your mind strong during long hours in the boat?
It is very tough mentally to be at sea, by yourself, in a small boat, in rough weather. I try many techniques; meditating, thinking of my wife and kids, singing, reading, crying, sleeping, all with limited amounts of success.

Are you ever really scared out there?
Yes, at night time when I am in shipping lanes in stormy weather and large ships are coming directly towards me, during electrical storms, and when I have to swim to fix the boat in storms.

How has playing high level rugby prepared you for extreme adventures?
Rugby taught me teamwork and what makes great teams. It also toughened me up physically and mentally. After breaking my legs, wrists, ribs, teeth, fingers, nose and ankle and being concussed, injuries are no big deal. I was always very small as a player but I lost my fear of tackling huge players after realising by focussing and honing my skills to perfection I could overcome a massive challenge, and that’s something I took into the world of adventure.

What do your friends and family think of your adventures?
My family worry about me at times and are happy when I come home safely. But they are supportive, and have never asked me not to go. There is a huge amount of trust involved – they see the amount of work I do to prepare and trust I will make the right decisions to always come home safely. That is also a big motivation for me to be safe out there, trust is the strongest emotional force I know.

How would you feel if your twin daughters grow up to be explorers?
Very proud. The world needs more people exploring and setting positive examples of what sustainable achievement can look like. I hope they will be sustainable living role models to others, like I am trying to be to them.

What is your advice to anyone contemplating a big adventure?
Contemplating it, coming up with the idea, dreaming it, that’s the easy part. Anyone can have an idea. Implementing that idea is the test. And for that you need honesty. Undertaking one of these projects is a true test of your authenticity. If you are not 100 percent genuinely committed to taking on a massive exploratory project you will be exposed very early on, as soon as the first of the thousands of hurdles and road blocks occur you will quit. So be honest with yourself, about how much you want this. And if it’s not 100 percent, then don’t start.

What is your other business?
I run my own human development company called Powerful Humans, named after my love of human powered exploration. I give inspiring keynote talks, professional coaching and decision making workshops. The workshops are simulated expedition experiences which put people into my shoes; to make the critical decisions I had to make, but without the dangerous consequences. It’s very rewarding using my own personal experiences to help high performance team’s work more effectively together and I literally love my job.

Grant’s Faves:

Favourite carb? White rice
Favourite type of workout? Currently F45 for an indoor gym-based workout
Hours spent exercising per week? 8
An extreme athlete you admire? Alexsander Doba – a 70 year old who has kayaked solo across the Atlantic three times. He doesn’t let age stop him. I can’t wait until my girls are old enough to row an ocean with their dad.

Perched atop the cliffs of Cape Panwa, overlooking the Southeastern tip of Phuket sits Sri Panwa, a six-star resort that’s in a league of its own. Offering 90 suites and villas, all with private swimming pools, it delivers pure luxury and glamour.

Day one

Morning: After a short morning flight from Singapore and an easy one-hour drive from Phuket Airport, we arrive at Sri Panwa just in time for lunch. Baba, the resort’s restaurant concept, has six dining locations with a wide range of culinary offerings, from Thai soul food to elegant Japanese, and even an onsite cooking school. After a stroll around the beautiful grounds, we settle at Baba Hot Box for lunch. Nestled in a quiet corner and surrounded by verdant forest, this casual BBQ diner serves succulent grilled meats, seafood and vegetables, and is located in The Habita, the resort’s newest enclave, which houses two restaurants, 20 pool suites, and 10 spectacular penthouses; all of which are sunset facing.

After a hearty lunch, it’s time to check into our villa. Hidden behind large carved wooden doors is a private and calm one-bedroom villa with spacious rooms and an expansive sundeck. The main bathroom has a Jacuzzi big enough for two, and a steam room. Drink in the breathtaking ocean views from a second open air outdoor Jacuzzi, or just drift in the dreamy 12m infinity lap pool. It’s easy to pass the time here, cozied up on the plush day bed, listening to the curated playlist. From almost every spot in the villa you can enjoy epic sunrises, sensational sunsets and quiet starlit nights. If you can drag yourself from your villa, a dedicated activities team offers a healthy choice of fun-filled pursuits, from snorkeling and diving, to watersports, a games room, art classes, and more. The resort also boasts two tennis courts, a state-of-the-art gym with its own boxing ring, and gorgeous communal swimming pools. If the call to venture out is strong, the resort offers yachting excursions and speed boat trips to neighbouring Racha, Coral and Lone Islands.

Afternoon: Scattered over 40 acres of tropical hillside surrounds, moving around the resort could be challenging, but fear not, Sri Panwa has a flotilla of Tuk Tuks ready and waiting to whisk you to your chosen destination. Our evening starts with cocktails and Mexican tapas at Baba Nest rooftop bar. I savour my tom yum inspired cocktail, relaxing in a plush beanbag and taking in the magnificent views across the island. As the sun starts to set, a golden hue ascends over the Andaman Sea. It’s no wonder Baba Nest was recently named in the top three best beach bars in the world. We dine at Baba Soul, which showcases a traditional Thai menu and unsurprisingly boasts its own breathtaking views.

Day 2

Getting active
Morning: To start my day I’ve been offered a choice between a serene sunrise yoga session or a more active Muay Thai lesson, and the decision is easy. I wrap up my hands, slip on some gloves, strap on some shin pads, and (after a clumsy fight with the boxing ring ropes!) I’m ready to go. It’s been a while since I last hit pads and although it’s heaps of fun and a great workout, I have to ask my trainer to lower the height of the pads, along with his expectations of my side kicks. Appetite fuelled, I head to Baba Pool club where daily breakfast is served; a vast array of Western and Asian choices with a sprawling buffet and a la carte selection, including plenty of healthy options. We spend the rest of the morning relishing the solitude of our villa, alternating between cooling off in our private pool and the comfort of the loungers. Unable to sacrifice the seclusion, I opt to watch the paddle boarders below, rather than join them… maybe tomorrow.

Afternoon: A trusty Tuk Tuk arrives to whisk us off to Baba Sunset Lounge for our Thai cooking class. Chef takes us through the culinary steps to create Som Tam Goong (papaya salad) and Tom Ka Gai (chicken-coconut soup). Afterwards, we enjoy the fruits of our labour for lunch. Our dishes would have been plenty, but there is a large array of delicious seafood dishes filling the long table and we tuck in!
After all the feasting, I walk down the hill for a tennis lesson to work it off. Like many of the dedicated resort staff, tennis coach Toon has worked at Sri Panwa since it opened 12 years ago. The team here is like one big family. Toon is a great coach and delightful company and I have a heap of fun hitting balls and working up a sweat. Finally, the time arrives for my 90-minute massage at Cool Spa. After two hefty sports sessions I choose the Deep Relax: an invigorating deep tissue massage focusing on pressure points and realigning the deeper layers of the muscles. I leave with my tired body feeling completely relaxed and rejuvenated.

Evening: At nightfall, Baba Pool Club transforms into a hip nightspot serving signature cocktails. On the recommendation of bar staff I try the famous Baba Daiquiri and sit back in a nest of plump cushions to enjoy a spectacular fire show. Dinner tonight is at Baba Iki; renowned for serving up some of the best Japanese cuisine on the island. The restaurant’s head chef was trained by the legendary Iron Chef Boontum and this is reflected in the quality of the Omakase menu, which includes Hokkaido scallop seasoned with yuzukocho and truffle oil, blue fin tuna sushi with egg yolk and lime, and red seabream smoked with straw. But the pièce de résistance is the melt-in-the-mouth deep fried Japanese Wagyu Beef from Hakata with Japanese curry sauce. Beware the call of ‘IKI!’ which in Japanese means ‘drink’ – something we hear often throughout the evening!

Day 3

Morning: Waking at 6am to the sound of waves lapping on the shore is a sublime way to start the day. I’m not usually an early riser, but I want to squeeze in every remaining moment in my amazing villa. During my stay at Sri Panwa my book stays in my suitcase, both TVs in the villa are switched off and I only use my phone briefly to let my family know I’m alive. In this spirit I use the earliest hours of my last day to enjoy the spectacular panoramic views stretching to the horizon, swim, and relax on the sundeck. Eventually the call of the pristine beach below gets the better of me and I head down the steps to stand up on the paddle board and kayak in the calm waters off the floating jetty – an apt close to a glorious getaway.

Travel essentials:
Get there Jetstar offer several daily flights to Phuket. booking.jetstar.com/sg
Best time to visit With a warm, tropical climate, it’s nearly always a good time to visit Phuket. But the best time is between November and February. The rainy monsoon season runs from mid-May to October.
Good to know The general rule in Phuket is don’t drink the water from the tap, and instead rehydrate with bottled water. Ice in tourist zones and hotels is usually safe and made with filtered water.
sripanwa.com

2-3 Oct
Sam Smith
Singapore Indoor Stadium
Don’t miss soulful Brit crooner, Sam Smith in his first-ever Singapore performance in support of his latest album, The Thrill of it All. Expect crowd faves like “I’m Not The Only One”, “Money On My Mind”, and “Stay With Me”, as well as the smash hit “Too Good At Goodbyes”. sportshub.com.sg

5-7 Oct
Octoburst
The Esplanade
Grab your little ones and join this joyous three-day celebration of children, bursting with vibrant performances, activities, workshops and more. This year, through the magic of theatre, dance and music, kids will learn the importance of being inclusive and the values of friendship and family. esplanade.com

5-14 Oct
Kinky Boots
Sands Theatre
80’s superstar Cyndi Lauper’s award-winning musical promises a night of towering stilettos and belly laughs. The big-hearted musical takes audiences from a gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan. Tickets from Sistic.

20 Oct
CSC Run by the Bay
Marina Reservoir
Starting at twilight from Gardens by the Bay East, runners will enjoy the beautiful city skyline and sunset on a new 12.8km run route that circles the Marina Reservoir. A half marathon of 21.1km is also on offer, along with a non-competitive 6km. Music, drinks and festival activities await at the finish line. cscrunbythebay.com

21-28 Oct
WTA Finals
Singapore Indoor Stadium
Catch the best players in women’s tennis at this exciting indoor tournament. Off the court enjoy family-friendly activities and games, or grab a selfie with leading tennis players and legends of the game as they make special appearances. wtafinals.com

18-21 Oct
Dear Zoo
Victoria Theatre
Rod Campbell’s best-selling lift-the-flap picture book has sold more than eight million copies worldwide since it was first published in 1982. This engaging stage show adaption will delight young audiences with animal puppets, music and audience interaction. Perfect for ages 2+. Tickets from Sistic.

18-21 Oct
Oktoberfest Asia
Open field next to Tan Quee Lan Street
With a cool new location – a fully air-conditioned marquee and a green space – this is a great way to enjoy a brew or two and some hearty European cuisine. Clink steins of Bavarian beers, or mosey down on Family Day on the Sunday for bouncy castles and kid-friendly activities. oktoberfestasia.com

27 Oct
Jason Mraz
National Stadium
In conjunction with the WTA Finals, Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Jason Mraz performs for one-night-only. Sing along to hits like “I’m Yours” and “Lucky”.
sportshub.com.sg/JasonMraz2018

Diary alert!

2-11 Nov
Singapore Writers’ Festival 2018
The Civic District
The 21st edition of the SWF delivers a stack of celebrated fiction writers, poets, spoken-word performers, graphic novelists, philosophers and thought leaders from all over the world. This year’s country of focus is Germany and multicultural programs will embrace the theme of 界 (jiè) – a Chinese character used to express the idea of endless worlds. Topics include immigration, multi-culturalism, climate change and virtual reality.
Check out the line-up at singaporewritersfestival.com or pick up a Festival Pass from sistic.com.sg.