Nadera has been struggling with mental health issues for more than 10 years, and as she continues to navigate the road to recovery, she started creatings^m^iles in 2014 to 'turn her mess into a message' so others do not have to walk the journey alone and that they would have an easier journey by avoiding the pains and struggles she's been through due to lack of knowledge and awareness of mental health issues. She was inspired by the pioneers who first began sharing their lived experience, and how that raised public awareness and contributed to the growth of the mental health services she now has access to.

 

Friends describe her as someone who demonstrates courage and confidence, and has much intuition and sensitivity to the needs of others. She strives for continuous learning to better her knowledge and skills in mental health and peer support:

- Certified Peer Support Specialist (NCSS and IMH)

- Certified Mental Health First Aider (Changi General Hospital)

- Certified First Aider with CPR + AED (Singapore First Aid Training Centre)

- Certified Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST)

- Certified in Digital Peer Support (digitalpeersupport.org)

 

She shares:

"When I first started disclosing in public I had just graduated and was seeking employment. I was really scared, scared of what my parents will say and of loosing my friends, and knew that I would be risking my employment opportunities. What made me decide to go ahead was really a leap of faith and a strong conviction to the cause.

 

Seeing the pioneers who went public and the impact that created, for it was their courage to come open during their time that made it easier for peers of my generation to do the same and which also created a better healthcare and social support system for us. I felt that I needed to continue what they started so that the future generation will have it even better than me. I am really thankful to my mentor who was the first one that told me I have a story that will benefit others and who empowered me to do my first few public sharing.

 

I still get peers coming to me privately to share their story or ask for advise on this stigmatised topic. Ironically, mental health is something that applies to everyone, and if not given due attention, can develop into a mental illness. Mental illness and disorders to do discriminate."