“The book guides me on writing notes on self-love and self-care, and when I look at them during low moments, they help me feel better. It gives me a boost,” says the 42-year-old, who is married and works as a supervisor in a restaurant.

The healing activities in the book have also benefited her. 

“When I’m stressed or struggling with low self-esteem, it can be difficult to think of activities that help relax the mind. The book offers reminders of therapeutic options like bonding with loved ones over games, watching comedies and going for a massage. These are simple yet effective ways to lift our spirits and improve mental well-being,” says Ms Chia.

In June, Ms Chan quit her job and joined CaringSG. She currently contributes to community events, social media marketing and membership.

Training caregivers to support one another

Ms Teo Hui Fang, who is the head of programmes at CaringSG, says its caregiver volunteer training programme has trained 66 caregivers as CAREbuddies or CAREchampions since 2021. 

CAREbuddies provide emotional support and a listening ear to fellow caregivers, while CAREchampions support a fellow caregiver as a peer in group settings at community events.

To widen the programme’s reach, CaringSG is in talks with social service agencies, such as the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children Centre, and special education schools to train their parent volunteers to support fellow caregivers, says Ms Teo.

CaringSG aims to engage at least five social service agencies to implement this programme, aiming to train 160 caregiver volunteers by March 2026, she adds.

The programme, offered free of charge, runs for 24 hours over a three-month period. Participants learn various skills such as effective communication strategies and problem-solving skills to help caregivers manage challenges. 

It is open to Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 18 to 65, who are caregivers of individuals with special needs. The course is delivered through e-learning modules and live sessions on Zoom.

Piano teacher Vanecia Er, who has a 12-year-old son with autism, became a CAREbuddy in 2022, after she found out about the programme on CaringSG’s website.

After undergoing training, she was assigned to a fellow caregiver who has a child with special needs.

To stay connected, Ms Er uses methods such as Zoom sessions, face-to-face meetups and texting.

“My aim is to remind them that they are not alone and to encourage them to share their challenges. We are all in this together, offering mutual support and understanding,” says Ms Er, who is married and has an eight-year-old daughter.

Ms Er has found the experience mutually rewarding.

“Before becoming a CAREbuddy, I rarely talked to others and struggled to find someone to share my thoughts and experiences with. Through this programme, I met other parent caregivers who, like me, mostly needed a listening ear and someone who understood their journey,” she adds.

Relief with a retreat

Supporting caregivers is crucial, as they often bear a heavy emotional, physical and financial burden while caring for loved ones with special needs or mental health challenges. 

Caregivers Alliance Limited (CAL) chief executive Tim Lee says, according to programme managers who have been training mental health caregivers since CAL’s inception in 2011, caregivers frequently face challenges like limited flexible work arrangements, a lack of respite, insufficient emotional support and financial difficulties.

To address the need for respite, CAL launched a pilot Respite & Resilience Retreat. 

The first retreat took place in May, followed by a second one in October, supporting around 30 mental health and dementia caregivers.

These caregivers, overwhelmed by burnout, isolation and the constant demands of caregiving, were provided with the space to recharge, reset and build resilience, says Mr Lee.