In 2025, Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) launched The Healing Nation, a national initiative inspired by the 140th Anniversary of The Methodist Church in Singapore to rally the wider community to give back. The initiative has raised close to $1.42 million—surpassing its $1.4 million target—to bless up to 1,000 families and individuals served by other charities, social service agencies and Methodist partners. Through this collective effort, MWS hopes to empower fellow organisations to go further in meeting the needs of the community. Two beneficiaries from Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities (THKMC) share how their families received support made possible by this initiative.
Falling through the cracks
Woo Hong Liang recalled how his son began expressing suicidal thoughts, repeatedly speaking about wanting to die and be reincarnated as an animal. “He kept that he wanted to become a dog, a cat or even a chicken,” shared the 70-year-old widower.
These thoughts were linked to his son hearing voices urging him to take his own life, reinforced by the belief that death would offer an escape from suffering and the burdens of being human. As his son began voicing these ideas more openly to those around him, a concerned colleague alerted the police. The family was subsequently referred to THK Family Service Centre @ Tanjong Pagar in late July 2025 for support.
Hong Liang’s son, who is in his 30s, was later admitted to the Institute of Mental Health, where he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. After a month-long stay, he was retrenched. With Hong Liang retired and his daughter working only part-time, his son had been the family’s sole breadwinner, and his retrenchment left them without a stable source of income. As his savings ran out, Hong Liang had to borrow from friends to buy food. The family also accumulated months of arrears in town council charges and utility bills.
Hong Liang’s social worker, Eva Lui, worked closely with the family to provide food rations and support the son’s return to employment. She also engaged the family in counselling and safety planning to help them cope with and manage the son’s condition.
“When I spoke with Hong Liang, I realised that many of the family’s challenges—including his son’s mental health struggles and the emotional strain they were under—were rooted in their financial constraints,” said Eva. She added that the son’s six-month medical certification of being unfit for work made it difficult for him to secure employment, leaving him “falling through the cracks”.
It was then that Eva decided to apply for a $1,400 grant for Hong Liang and his family under The Healing Nation initiative. “At that point, their bank account had only $2 left,” she recalled. “The grant provided them with immediate relief and also allowed the son to focus on job-seeking without the constant anxiety over finances—worries that had previously overwhelmed him and affected both his interviews and daily functioning.”
Breaking down into tears as he spoke, Hong Liang said, “Now that the bills have been cleared, I don’t have to worry so much anymore. It has really eased my burden. I don’t want to think too much, otherwise I will get a headache. Thank you for helping me.”
The Healing Nation initiative reflects how partnerships like these can uplift communities and ensure quality care and support services are accessible to all.
~ Li Xiao Yan Iris, Deputy Centre Director, THKMC Family Services
Living hand to mouth
When Aisyah’s* ex-husband walked out on her and their children in 2023, her older child was just 15 months old, and her younger, only three months old. A housewife then, Aisyah was thrust back into the workforce, burning the candle at both ends to keep her family afloat.
“I worked permanent 12-hour night shifts and took on a part-time cleaning job in the mornings for a year because my ex-husband didn’t provide any maintenance,” she shared.
The strain deepened when health challenges arose. Her elder child was diagnosed with bronchiectasis, resulting in frequent hospital admissions that required Aisyah to take emergency leave, affecting her income. At the same time, she was battling a chronic nerve condition that caused persistent pain, stemming from long hours of standing in her previous job.
With guidance from her social worker at THK Family Service Centre @ Bedok North, Hintu Valayutham, Aisyah successfully applied to enforce a maintenance order. She also received counselling and practical support, including diapers for her children. After a fall aggravated her nerve condition and led to her job termination, Hintu helped her secure financial assistance and successfully appealed for her children’s school enrolment deposits to be paid in monthly instalments, easing the financial strain.
Support from MWS further lightened the load. A $1,400 grant through The Healing Nation initiative will enable the 31-year-old to cover the upfront deposit for her children’s upcoming enrolment at a new school—an expense that would otherwise have been daunting, as she is currently still paying off deposits for their current school.
“I’m speechless,” said Aisyah on receiving the grant. “It really touched me because I went all around asking for help, but no one helped us the way MWS did. My children may be too young to understand, but it reminds me that we are not alone as we face these challenges.”
If you would like to learn more about MWS’ work in empowering under-resourced families, visit www.mws.sg. To donate, visit www.give.mws.sg.
By the Methodist Welfare Services Communications Team. / Photos courtesy of Methodist Welfare Services
