ANSWERING A CALLING

After polytechnic, Ming Xiu got into Nanyang Technological University (NTU) to study Linguistics and Multilingual Studies. He started volunteering as a tutor and mentor to young probationers at the Muhammadiyah Welfare Home, many of whom come from dysfunctional backgrounds. He connected well with the boys, and they appreciated that he had made the time to teach them. His sincere and open sharing about his own educational detour encouraged them to work hard for their N-levels. Aceing their examinations, they managed to get into their desired courses at the Institute of Technical Education. “When they shared the good news with me, I felt like a proud father,” he says with a grin. “And when they thanked me, it was a feeling money cannot buy.”

The discovery of a new-found purpose in the boys’ lives made Ming Xiu want to do more — and he was prepared to go to great lengths to realise his goals. Once again, he quit his studies, leaving NTU to work at a social service agency that helps young probationers re-integrate into the community. The two years he spent there convinced him that working with youths was his calling. So he applied for, and was awarded, a scholarship at Singapore University of Social Sciences to pursue a part-time degree in Social Work.

Meanwhile, he started volunteering at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), helping elderly schizophrenia patients. This, along with his first encounter with mental illness (in the case of his friend) from junior college, sparked his desire to help youths struggling with mental health issues. Together with a few other IMH volunteers and support from Youth Corps Singapore — which is part of the National Youth Council — he started Campus PSY, a mental health peer support group for youths in 2016 (see box below).

CHANGING MINDSETS, SHOWING SUPPORT

On top of managing Campus PSY in the day, Ming Xiu still studies for his part-time university degree in the evenings and gives tuition to sustain his finances during the weekends. It’s a gruelling schedule, especially when many of his friends are already earning good money, and are buying cars and homes. Ming Xiu, who was recently named as a Young Societal Leader at the 2019 Singapore Summit, has also had to fight temptation when enticing job offers come his way. How does he stay the course? By seeing the bigger picture and always returning to why he started this journey — to help people struggling with mental health issues and change the attitudes towards them. “It’s not easy, but things that are worth doing never are,” he reasons. “My team and I are convicted in our work. Ultimately, our bigger vision is for Singapore. Shifting the culture, attitudes and mindsets of people towards sufferers by being more inclusive, giving more support and having more awareness — that’s really something we hope to achieve when we’re still alive.”

For youths who are unsure where to start, he says they should seek to empathise with other people’s challenges. Active listening to the intent or motivation behind what they are saying is the first step to helping young adults seek help early, so they won’t spiral downwards. And that starts with all of us. “Have a heart to understand others, not label them,” Ming Xiu explains. “Often, people just need someone to be there with them. Offering a non-judgmental listening ear is very important.”