Story by Cynthia Jean Miranda
Jeremy’s story
Suicide — to think that that is an easy resolve for teens today just makes it more imminent that immediate change needs to take place. Someone who has been through hell and back and came on top of it, is none other than Thineshvaran Jeremy.
Starting his mental health advocacy at the tender age of 21, Jeremy feels that his knowledge of it was not evident at the start.
“I was just not able to understand certain areas of it,” he explains.
However, two years on, the Nanyang Polytechnic graduate is constantly bending over backwards to give people a voice, starting by sharing his story.
“I was actually diagnosed with anxiety and depression at the end of 2019,” Jeremy shares with a heavy heart. Ever since then, he has been in and out of general therapy, counselling and psychiatric therapy.
His experience with bullies had traumatized him so much that he suffers from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) till this date. Racism and homophobia were the two biggest issues he had to deal with growing up.
“I think things stopped affecting me after I went into polytechnic, because I learnt a lot about myself, which helped me to stand up for myself.”
Not wanting to rely on the routine medicines that his doctor prescribed him, he built up the courage to do things by himself in order to see a greater change. This included focusing on his physical fitness by running, cycling and lifting weights.
Turning pain into power
“I think (sharing my story) was when I received attention from people that were struggling with the same things I was ... Progressively after that, I started to put out content that was helpful for people,” he says, motioning to his phone.
Actively helping people through online channels is just the tip of the iceberg for Jeremy. He does so through his Instagram (@aj.safespace) and Telegram (ahbejeremy’s safespace), where he creates personalised content to share helpful reminders to love yourself, as well as tips on how to positively change your lifestyle.
Titled “It’s All In You”, Jeremy also urges readers to give his newest e-book a read.
The e-book is a short non-fiction novel that briefly describes how he sees mental health wellness through his eyes and sums up his perspective of life.
Jeremy’s efforts do not stop there. Wanting to garner more awareness on mental health, he does collaborations with professionals and other like-minded advocates as well.
What more can be done
Jeremy has always questioned why there was an abundance of fashion and beauty influences in comparison to mental health advocates in the media.
“While I do agree that Singapore is trying their best to make changes. I think the government can do much better,” he says.
Just like how learning sex education has become the norm for teenagers, mental health wellness studies should be implemented in every school's curriculum as well — especially when most mental illnesses are triggered during earlier years in school.
“I strive to be a bridge for them, so that they are able to reach out to receive professional help.”
Drive conversations
Societal pressures placed upon us tend to restrict us from being vulnerable.
“However, that is the only way we can break or, at least, lessen the stigma of mental health,” Jeremy says.
Having this support system is important because it will subconsciously reach out to those struggling with mental illnesses as well.
Jeremy thinks that we have to put a stop to people loosely using terms like “depressed” and “OCD” as if they are casual words to describe your feelings. What that does merely reduces the severity of the disorders, thus lessening the importance of and making mental health conditions harder for people to take seriously.
Nevertheless, there's always light at the end of the tunnel — more people are starting to call each other out for using such terms blindly.
Mental health as a topic deserves so much more attention, being the driving factor for a majority of cases of death by suicide.
“If we collectively support causes and start advocating for mental health, we will see a change in a lot of things.” Jeremy says.
Mental health is just as important as any other aspect of an individual's life.
Daily affirmations
Jeremy advises to use the comments and criticisms you get from people trying to tear you down and use that to fuel your drive and better yourself.
“Set your own expectations and never compare yourself with anyone!” Jeremy encourages.
He mentions that it is definitely a good idea to set small, daily goals and try your best to reach them — make them practicable! Be one with your mind and reflect; split your thoughts into good and bad, and slowly discard the negative ones.
People don't realise how much will power it takes to pull yourself out of a dark place. So, if you’ve managed to do that today, I am proud of you.
Jeremy before (51kg) and after (68kg).