“Growing up, I suffered from depression and anxiety due to the bullying I faced since Secondary 1. As the bullying got worse, my sense of self-worth dropped as well and I began self-harming. Cutting became a daily routine for me as a form “punishment” for whatever I did during the day. I would always find something to blame myself for, even if things were fine or if I was not at fault.
After attempting suicide twice on two different occasions, I was eventually brought to HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre (DRTC). I didn’t have a voice when I entered and my only goal in mind was to get out of there quickly. However, I had to first recover, fix and patch myself up and in that process, my traumatic childhood experience resurfaced.
When I was in K2, I was sexually abused by my grandfather and 3 other cousins on different occasions. My counsellor brought this matter up to the police and my family. That was when my voice was finally being heard as I was able to tell my mum the things I had to keep inside me for so long.
DRTC has helped me in every part of my life. They taught me the skills to deal with the issues and the past traumatic experiences in my life. They also provided me with love and care as I was treated like family amongst the staff and youth workers. DRTC gave me the support and guidance I needed to get back on my own two feet. I now have a voice and DRTC has shown me how powerful it could be if I use it to share my story, inspire others, stand up for what’s right, and most importantly impact people’s lives. I miss the times spent in DRTC because everyone there made it feel like home and the delicious meals that Siti made always taste like home too. I will always remember the memories I made during my time here in DRTC.”
Testimony by Natasha, Alumni of HCSA Dayspring Residential Treatment Centre