Recalling her dad's suicide when she was 17

Anger, denial, guilt and stigma in her family

Challenge in getting help back then

How one doctor changed her life

Breaking the vicious circle of taboo

Tips for suicide survivors

Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Suicide is a complex phenomenon, one that is not yet fully understood. It's why the Institute of Mental Health has embarked on the first psychological autopsy in Singapore, to study to explore and analyse the risk factors for suicide. 

In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Ms Jacqueline Pak. She is 42 and the head of corporate affairs in a boutique consultancy firm. She lost her father to suicide when she was 17. She shares the impact it has had on her life.

If you're having thoughts of suicide or know someone feeling suicidal, please reach out for help, and we have included helplines below.

To find out more about the study, you can e-mail: imhresearch@imh.com.sg

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:10 Ms Pak recalls when her dad died of suicide when she was 17

6:55 Anger, denial and guilt in her family, following his suicide; harsh reactions from friends

13:40 Challenge in getting help back then: Being told how to feel and what to do

16:50 How one doctor changed her life after she left to work in Australia at 26

23:30 Why Ms Pak is participating in the new IMH survey and what it took for her to do this interview; breaking the vicious circle of taboo

28:45 Ms Pak's tips for suicide survivors and those who have lost loved ones through suicide

HELPLINES

National Care: 1800-202-6868

Samaritans of Singapore Hotline: 1-767; CareText: (WhatsApp) 9151-1767 (24-hour)

Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800 2837 019

Institute Of Mental Health: 6389 2222 (24-hour)

Care Corner Counselling Centre: 6353 1180

Silver Ribbon: 6386-1928

Tinkle Friend: 1800 2744 788 and www.tinklefriend.sg

Community Health Assessment Team: 6493 6500 and www.chat.mentalhealth.sg

TOUCHline (Counselling): 1800 3772 252

TOUCH Care Line (for seniors, caregivers): 6804 6555

Produced by: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg) and Fa'izah Sani

Edited by: Fa'izah Sani and Eden Soh

Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6Wv

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

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Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#healthcheck

Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you. Suicide is a complex phenomenon, one that is not yet fully understood. It's why the Institute of Mental Health has embarked on the first psychological autopsy in Singapore, to study to explore and analyse the risk factors for suicide. 
In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Ms Jacqueline Pak. She is 42 and the head of corporate affairs in a boutique consultancy firm. She lost her father to suicide when she was 17. She shares the impact it has had on her life.
If you're having thoughts of suicide or know someone feeling suicidal, please reach out for help, and we have included helplines below.
To find out more about the study, you can e-mail: <a href="mailto:imhresearch@imh.com.sg">imhresearch@imh.com.sg</a>
Highlights (click/tap above): 1:10 Ms Pak recalls when her dad died of suicide when she was 17
6:55 Anger, denial and guilt in her family, following his suicide; harsh reactions from friends
13:40 Challenge in getting help back then: Being told how to feel and what to do
16:50 How one doctor changed her life after she left to work in Australia at 26
23:30 Why Ms Pak is participating in the new IMH survey and what it took for her to do this interview; breaking the vicious circle of taboo
28:45 Ms Pak's tips for suicide survivors and those who have lost loved ones through suicide
HELPLINES
National Care: 1800-202-6868
Samaritans of Singapore Hotline: 1-767; CareText: (WhatsApp) 9151-1767 (24-hour)
Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800 2837 019
Institute Of Mental Health: 6389 2222 (24-hour)
Care Corner Counselling Centre: 6353 1180
Silver Ribbon: 6386-1928
Tinkle Friend: 1800 2744 788 and <a href="http://www.tinklefriend.sg">www.tinklefriend.sg</a>
Community Health Assessment Team: 6493 6500 and <a href="http://www.chat.mentalhealth.sg">www.chat.mentalhealth.sg</a>
TOUCHline (Counselling): 1800 3772 252
TOUCH Care Line (for seniors, caregivers): 6804 6555
Produced by: Joyce Teo (<a href="mailto:joyceteo@sph.com.sg">joyceteo@sph.com.sg</a>) and Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Fa'izah Sani and Eden Soh Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us: Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaN" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWaN&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2nkVImQf-8v9d6Tw_vKArt">https://str.sg/JWaN</a> Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/JWRX" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWRX&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3zn3oikeVajVNdMRURaOfx">https://str.sg/JWRX</a> Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaQ" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWaQ&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3_t108wAvH5pLbPtF6VOtO">https://str.sg/JWaQ</a> Google Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/J6Wv" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/J6Wv&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0YaX8vGAhmkol6NJyVAaN5">https://str.sg/J6Wv</a>  SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.awedio.sg/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw00-jPEKOahNQKdq5BindNu">https://www.awedio.sg/</a> Website: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://str.sg/stpodcasts&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw36xsIo4zPqEhJflpL1bkEW">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a> Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a> Read Joyce Teo's stories: <a href="https://str.sg/JbxN" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JbxN&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1q9D8ieS0p5p9OmLcGOdAj">https://str.sg/JbxN</a> --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: <a href="https://str.sg/wuJa" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wuJa&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1wZd5px0-fcuXoFrAy2TL0">https://str.sg/wuJa</a> The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: <a href="https://str.sg/wuZ2" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wuZ2&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3f3raqpktgFdeRW6KWG_x3">https://str.sg/wuZ2</a> Stop Scams: <a href="https://str.sg/wuZB" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wuZB&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2sL0PyDSwjyoCbha2kO9zt">https://str.sg/wuZB</a> Invisible Asia: <a href="https://str.sg/wuZn" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wuZn&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3gIyR8AzYUkFM7Iiv1mz2H">https://str.sg/wuZn</a> --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: <a href="https://str.sg/JWa7" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWa7&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1KMIBQADeOu5TlVGEm_nxP">https://str.sg/JWa7</a> Green Pulse: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaf" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWaf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3Ac8zAVE965PEao-i6BAU0">https://str.sg/JWaf</a> In Your Opinion: <a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/w7Qt&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Q6EZ3gS4vaAas7xiMyQy_">https://str.sg/w7Qt</a> Your Money &amp; Career: <a href="https://str.sg/wB2m" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wB2m&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1pcMhZnjfO-HjTHz3DXwsB">https://str.sg/wB2m</a> #PopVultures: <a href="https://str.sg/JWad" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWad&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3BGh4UeBhEqYtLBkeP-h7X">https://str.sg/JWad</a> ST Sports Talk: <a href="https://str.sg/JWRE" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWRE&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0RDdnhGJXFUOIFcoIbYtyc">https://str.sg/JWRE</a> Bookmark This!: <a href="https://str.sg/JWas" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWas&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1dWTF8qgY61N6A16Gpg90N">https://str.sg/JWas</a> Lunch With Sumiko: <a href="https://str.sg/J6hQ" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/J6hQ&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1saSoso-x9wi7JJBGBXiz2">https://str.sg/J6hQ</a> Discover ST Podcasts: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://str.sg/stpodcasts&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw36xsIo4zPqEhJflpL1bkEW">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a> Discover BT Podcasts: <a href="https://bt.sg/pcPL" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bt.sg/pcPL&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1664963758144000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0MNzkUJda9XYBhsZJ1JOZ1">https://bt.sg/pcPL</a> Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #healthcheck

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Podcaster: Joyce Teo

Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis & The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.
Podcaster: Joyce Teo
Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis &amp; The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

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