The day I thought I would lose my son.

🌈 When My Son Was Just 7

Depression can happen even to very young children. My son was only 7 in Primary 1 when I found out that he had been depressed and had suicidal ideations.

He hid it well because he loved me. He seemed happy. There were no obvious warning signs. In fact, he hid it so well that there were no warning signs at all. Then one day, he couldn’t hold it in anymore. Sitting in my car, he broke down and begged:

“Mama please help me… I cannot take it anymore… I want to die but I will miss you…If I die, mama be heartbroken.”

I held him in the car for over an hour as he cried and cried. That moment changed everything for me as a parent. I stopped everything in life to keep him safe. I took time off work to support him through school bullying, the stress of a new environment, and his repeated thoughts of ending his life.

🌱 Why Some Children Show No Signs 🌱

Depression and suicidal thoughts can hide behind a smile — especially in children. Many young ones don’t have the words to describe what they’re feeling, and some go to great lengths to protect their parents from worrying.

Sensitive children, in particular, may:

• Mask their emotions to avoid “burdening” loved ones.

• Appear happy or high-achieving outwardly, but struggle internally.

• Cry in private or suppress feelings until an overwhelming moment breaks through.

Because children’s coping mechanisms and emotional vocabulary are still developing, they may not show the same warning signs as adults (like dramatic mood swings, withdrawal, or verbalising hopelessness). Instead, their distress can remain hidden until a trigger—like bullying, a change in environment, or feeling cornered—overwhelms their ability to cope.

Art became his bridge—a language that reached where words could not. Slowly, through painting, clay, and colour, he began to express what his heart had long carried. Through art, he found light that was once dimmed… and in that process, he taught me the power of creative expression as a lifeline.

It was through him that Soul HeARTful was born—not from a grand vision, but from a mother’s desperate wish to help her child find light again. What started as a way to support my son has now grown into an NGO that touches the lives of children, youth, and adults who, like him, once felt trapped in silence.

Today, my son is no longer that quiet boy battling unseen battles. He has become a beacon of empathy and strength—a befriender who helps socially isolated children express their emotions through art, a young facilitator who co-leads workshops for adults with mental health challenges, and a living reminder that healing is possible.

He became a guiding light.

When we stand side by side in community workshops—he guide participants through their first strokes of colour, and me watching with quiet pride—I am reminded why Soul HeARTful exists. It exists because one child found healing through art… and now helps others do the same. Recently, he even led an art workshop for adults living with mental health challenges.

He is deeply moved by the smiles he sees during our workshops and sessions—each one a reminder of how far hope can travel. Recently, he told me he wants to be just like Mama, to help others find light in their darkest moments… not realising that he has already become that guiding light. ✨

Soul HeARTful is not just a non-profit organisation—it’s our shared heartbeat. A mother’s love and a son’s courage intertwined to remind the world that healing can begin from the gentlest act—a stroke of paint, a spark of hope, and a belief that no one should ever face their pain alone.

With the right support, healing is possible — and those who once struggled can go on to bring light to others. 🌈 Art works its quiet magic when words cannot.

At Soul HeARTful, our pockets aren’t deep, but both of our hearts are. If you know of a child or anyone who is struggling, please reach out to us. We will do our best to provide free art therapy and support — because one more life lost is already one too many.

#ChildMentalHealth #EarlyIntervention #SoulHeARTful