My Say

Ms Chan Lishan
Mental health advocate & recovered IMH patient  

• Making Informed Medical Decisions 
• Mental Health and Employment 
• Nature Walks for Better Mental Health 
• Nutrition and Mental Health 
• Philosophy and mental health: How we respond is a matter of choice 

 Profile
Chan Lishan completed a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Politics from the University of York (UK) and a master’s degree in Philosophy and History of Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science (UK). Lishan was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2008 and is now a mental health advocate with a passion to raise awareness and interest of mental health issues.  

Lishan currently works for the National Council of Social Service, Service Planning and Development Group, Mental Health Services, to enhance employment opportunities for persons with mental health issues. Lishan also takes speaking engagements internationally and locally. She has been invited to speak at schools, universities, private training academies, hospitals, mental health organisations, and pharmaceutical companies. She has plans to engage employers in the future.  

In July 2012, she was the youngest Singaporean to publish a first-person mental health narrative titled A Philosopher’s Madness (Ethos Books, Singapore). Her book was nominated for the Singapore Literature Prize in 2014. Lishan has contributed articles to local newspapers and magazines including The Straits Times, Business Times. She has been featured in the media and has appeared on current affairs television programmes.   

Profile
Raymond Anthony Fernando is a writer, motivational speaker, and advocate for the mentally ill. He was a caregiver to his late wife Doris Lau, who had Schizophrenia, until she passed away in 2014. 

Raymond has authored 30 books, including: “Poems from the heart”, “Feelings - A collection of heartfelt poems”, “Loving a schizophrenic - a true story of love, loyalty and courage”, " Joy to the world - a collection of poems for children", “Mambo Jumbo with Fernando” and “The pot that cooks and the pen that moves” – a book co-authored with his late wife.  

Before he became a full-time caregiver to his wife, Raymond had served in the public service and had received numerous awards and commendations for his community work and for his writing. In 1998, Raymond was commended by the Singapore Police Force for promoting road safety in the republic.  

Raymond also holds a Certificate in Public Relations from the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore. He has attended formal training at the Singapore Association for Mental Health and was awarded a Certificate of Participation for the nine-week Family Link Program in 2006. He has also obtained a Certificate of Achievement in 2005 from the Social Service Training Institute for the course Reclaiming lives: Helping people with persistent and serious mental illness. Raymond was awarded the Mental Health Champion in 2010.    

Raymond hopes to continue to touch readers' hearts and to champion the rights of the mentally ill in Singapore through his writing and his advocacy work.  He is always happy to give talks on his experience as a caregiver to his late wife Doris, whom he describes as his greatest love and inspiration.