TTWD4 — “A Father’s Journey” - Supporting Your Child Through Mental Health Challenges

Today's, TehTarik With Dads session was one of our most heartfelt conversations yet. Twenty fathers and spouses gathered at The Foundry for an afternoon of honesty, courage, and community — a space where fathers could breathe, listen, and learn from one another.

The session, titled “A Father’s Journey: Supporting Your Child Through Mental Health Challenges,” brought together two remarkable fathers: Mr Anuar, who walked a difficult journey beside his child, and Mr Zainal Abidin Lee, Senior Manager at Club HEAL’s CREST-CSN team, who works closely with caregivers navigating similar challenges.

Together, they opened up about the fears, the uncertainties, the moments of helplessness — and the choices they made as fathers to stay present, stay patient, and stay connected.

A Conversation Filled With Heart

From the very beginning, the hall felt different — calm, safe, and deeply human. As both speakers shared their stories, fathers in the room nodded quietly, seeing parts of their own journeys reflected back at them.

Key themes emerged strongly:

1. Mental health challenges affect the whole family

When a child struggles, the entire home feels it. Fathers shared how guilt, fear, and self-doubt often become silent companions.

2. Presence matters more than perfection

Both speakers emphasised the power of simply being there — listening without judgment, staying calm, showing empathy, and creating a safe space for the child.

3. Faith, hope, and community are anchors

Many fathers spoke about how spiritual grounding, family support, and professional help gave them strength and clarity.

4. Fathers need support too

Perhaps the strongest message of the day: fathers cannot pour from an empty cup. Having a network — like BapaHebatSG — can make the journey less lonely.

The discussion with the audience was rich, sincere, and unhurried. What was scheduled for 90 minutes stretched naturally to almost 1 hour and 45 minutes, because the questions kept coming, and the learning was mutual.

A Moderator Who Held the Space Beautifully

A heartfelt appreciation to Dr Sham, who moderated the session with gentleness, clarity, and deep empathy. His guidance gave the conversation structure while making room for vulnerability — a balance not many can hold as well as he did.

Gratitude to All Who Made This Possible

To our speakers, thank you for your courage and generosity.

To all the fathers and spouses who turned up — your presence matters, and your willingness to grow makes a real difference to your families.

To our partners Club HEAL and the Community Leaders Forum (CLF), thank you for believing in this mission to strengthen families one father at a time.

And to our volunteers and team at BapaHebatSG — every small act behind the scenes helped shape a meaningful afternoon.

Moving Forward Together

Today’s session reminded us of one powerful truth:

When fathers grow, families heal.

We hope more fathers will join us in upcoming Teh Tarik With Dads sessions as we continue creating safe and supportive spaces for honest conversations.

Let’s keep showing up — for ourselves, for one another, and for our children.