SINGAPORE — In 2022, a devastating road accident took the life of Clarissa Foong’s close friend whom she had known since secondary school.
Healing invisible wounds: How 2 young Singaporeans found hope and support after traumatic bodily injuries
As they rebuild their lives, Ms Foong and Mr Madsen have found a safe space with a trauma survivor support group, where they connect with people who understand their struggles. Ms Lim Suat Ting, senior coordinator at NUH’s department of surgery, explained that many patients whose bodies have gone through physical trauma struggle with similar emotional battles of isolation after being discharged from the hospital.
Dr Soo Shuenn Chiang, senior consultant at NUH’s department of psychological medicine, said that some people may develop post-traumatic stress disorder after the accident or experience PTSD-like symptoms. “This empowers each individual to accept their experience as part of who they are and to transform their adversity into strength,” he added.
Her father printed photos of her, her family, good friends and pet cats to show her, but she was unable to recognise or recall anyone. It took her months to relearn how to walk and regain some of her memory, which returned to her in “bits and pieces”, so she could not make sense of all things in her life because there were still gaping chunks of missing information.To familiarise herself with the skills she had forgotten and seek employment support, she approached SG Enable, an organisation that focuses on enabling people living with disabilities.
“I’m still trying and I can say confidently that I’ve seen improvements. You don’t have to feel alone.”For teenager Marius Madsen, joining the trauma support group and talking about his traumatic experience was a turning point in his recovery. “I struggled very much with my identity — I suddenly questioned everything I knew about myself before the accident,” he said.
“I didn’t know if I was ready to hear other people’s stories either,” he admitted. “But I figured I had nothing to lose.” The support group has also given the youth the extra push that he needed to achieve his personal goals.Mr Marius Madsen pictured at a Para Taekwondo event in September 2024. It was held in Brisbane, Australia where he won a gold medal.
Mental Health Trauma NUH People With Disabilities
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