HEAL Newsletter Issue 27

HEAL

JAN - MAR 2020 ISSUE 27

President’s Address Says Daryl,  “Like clay, we need to be pressed on,
to be rolled on, by people, medication, moisture
Pottery and Healing and time. We can add colours to show our
personality and apply a glaze to make us shine.
“Our recovery progress is just like clay. We may We strengthen ourselves by baking in the oven,
be broken, damaged and hurt but when we are namely, going through stressors and life events
soaked into water we become reusable clay – like getting a new job, getting married, having
our lives might not be the same any more, and children and new responsibilities, or grieving
we are not looking to live the life we had when over the death of a loved one.”
we were well, but we can create a new life, live a
new kind of life.” – Daryl Tan In this issue of HEAL, our writers explore with Kak
Junn and the peers about their healing journeys
Mdm Junainah Eusope (aka Kak Junn) introduced through pottery. 
pottery to Club HEAL’s rehabilitative programme
at our first centre in Bukit Batok East back in “Who perfected everything which He created
2014. Since then, we have seen many clients heal and began the creation of man from clay.” - 32:7
through pottery – beginning from the time they
have clay in their hands to the completion of the About Club HEAL
final product and the immense satisfaction from
seeing their creations sold to admirers via our Club HEAL is a charity that promotes the healing
pushcarts or booths or bulk sales. and recovery of people with mental health
challenges by inspiring Hope, Empowering lives,
Daryl Tan, one of our peer support specialists, was fostering Acceptance and spreading Love. It has a
one of Club HEAL’s clients who vision of a stigma-free society that is conducive
have benefited much from for healing and recovery. Services provided by
Kak Junn’s gentle guiding Club HEAL include day rehabilitative services,
hands during pottery sessions home visits, public education, support groups and
at the centre. volunteer training.

He sees many parallels between Office opens from 9am to 5pm on weekdays
pottery and recovery. 
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Magic Fingers " Pottery makes me see my
Shape Club HEAL
illness in a beautiful light, to
BY YOHANNA ABDULLAH
think positive..."
She has magic fingers and with them she creates
beauty – unique pottery that makes Club HEAL “I once thought I could do no good, that I couldn’t
proud. Mdm Junainah Eusope, 64, is well known for do things. But I realised, not bad, I  can do it!” She
teaching this craft to her peers in Club HEAL since added, “My dream is to make Club HEAL’s name
2013. Affectionately known as Kak Junn, this affable synonymous with beautiful pottery and for it to be
programme coordinator with Club HEAL learned well-known internationally.”
pottery in the Institute of Mental Health (IMH)
where she was a patient, encouraged by its staff Creative Corner
and especially her counsellor who found that she
was really good with her hands. Pottery and Healing

Said Kak Junn, “In IMH, the health team BY NUR AFIQAH BTE MOHD AZMAN
encouraged me to explore my talent in doing
handicrafts and I thought OK, I will try it. Under its The clay is a flawless thing that changes in shape
Octave programme, I specialised in pottery.” and size
The soft texture plays along with my mood
Pottery is not an easy craft to master. But it is the The white and brown try so hard to seep into my soul 
perfect craft to express one’s emotions. Said Kak
Junn, “It was very frustrating at first, so many times The clay is a beginning to a small creation of big vases
I failed and smashed the clay. I slowly practised and small sculptures
from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm.” Focusing and A beginning to hope and dreams
concentrating on the art cured her mind of racing A beginning to a wonderful life that we aspire to live 
thoughts.
With the magic touch
She said that whenever her mood went up and The clay can form into any physical being that we
down, she “took it out” on the clay. “I squeeze, hit imagine in our minds
and play with the clay and I feel better. Maybe my With the magic touch
life is just like a piece of clay. I can do anything. I The clay represents our subconscious mind 
can crush it and shape it back. Nothing is
permanent.” Sometimes we wonder
Sometimes we wonder
The best part is that she can shape it into beautiful How a piece of clay can become some thing of
objects, be it a flower or a bird. “Pottery makes me wondrous beauty 
see my illness in a beautiful light, to think positive
and know that if there is a crack, I also know how A piece of clay is just like us
to patch it up. Illness is not permanent, we can Raw and waiting to be moulded
mend the cracks.” Waiting to be mouldedTo become a better version
of ourselves
Kak Junn slowly learnt her craft – self-taught
mostly – and she found it aided her recovery. She
was diagnosed with major depressive disorder,
mania and psychosis in 2002 and was under
rehabilitation at Simei Care Centre in 2005, where
she was recovering with the help of IMH. Her
counsellor said that her chances of recovery was
75% and he wanted her to be his first patient to
recover  completely from mental illness. Said Kak
Junn said. “I felt very bad about disappointing him
as he really believed in me, so I tried my best and
did it!”

Her journey with clay started in 2005 and in 2006,
the media published her empowering story. She
held a solo pottery exhibition, Metamorphosis, at
the Arts House, collaborating with IMH and raised
$22K with her pottery, her pieces selling for a
minimum of $200 each.

Healing Through Pottery One of them is Mdm Carlina Hutabarat, 67, a
volunteer at Club HEAL. This year, under Kak
By Yohanna Abdullah Junn’s tutelage she has produced three bowls, one
vase and one plaque, a feat she is very proud
Junainanah Eusope’s love affair with clay of.  Carlina enthused, “It is very therapeutic. I put
continued through her involvement with Club myself into it. If I am angry, I will bang the clay and
HEAL, first as a volunteer and now as a full-time work it bending it here and there with my hand.
programme coordinator. Patient, smiling and When I get emotional, I will work it very slowly.
outspoken, she mentors peers at Club HEAL in Just as I want people to pamper me, I pamper my
pottery sessions at Marsiling where there is a clay.” 
vibrant pottery workshop. Many have been tutored
by her and some are especially interested in the She said she colours her pottery “hoping that my
craft, like Mr Ahmad Ghani, 65 who is her chief life will be colourful”. Indeed, it has been, as the
protege. gregarious, generous and kind soul has brought
much laughter and gaiety with her presence in
Club HEAL Marsiling will not be the same without Club HEAL.
Ahmad in his white plastic apron going quietly in
his creative work.    Ahmad has been with Club This independent and feisty lady, who often brings
HEAL probably the start of the pottery lessons and food to share with her friends at Club HEAL, said, “I
it has aided in his recovery. hope to put in more effort and learn more hands-
on skills so that I can produce quality products for
“Actually, I don’t know if I have a mental illness but sale to bring in proceeds for Club HEAL. Those that
my brother sent me to Club HEAL. I found the are not sold I can bring home for display for my
pottery lessons very calming and I am very children to see.”
interested in the craft. It feels great when my works
are sold or given as gifts. It is a relaxing and Carlina recommends pottery to peers so that they
peaceful craft and I do it not for money but for can distract their minds by keeping their hands
passion.” busy. While she aspires to excel in pottery, she said
she cannot replace Kak Junn. “She has magic
Ahmad, who is a handy man, also cleans Club fingers which can easily shape into a tear or a leaf,
HEAL’s centre at Marsiling for a side income. which I can’t. With a stroke of a toothpick she can
make veins of a leaf, very beautifully. I still have a
Kak Junn said “He is very happy with this long way to go.”
arrangement as he is a man of few words and
expresses his emotions more physically.” Be a HEALing Friend

And so it is with other peers, who move their "You see, the Mu’min in their mutual piety, love
fingers and frustrations on the clay, doing it over and affection, are like a (single) body. When a
and over again. “While they are doing that, I discuss part (of it) has a complaint, the whole body is
their issues and they pour their feelings out and united with it in wakefulness and fever.”  –
cry,” said Kak Junn. (Bukhari and Muslim).

As a member or a volunteer, you can contribute
in a variety of ways, from assisting in Club HEAL
events to conducting rehabilitative activities! We
need people from all walks of life who can
contribute their time and skills to fulfil our cause.
To become a member, please fill up the
membership form available at our website
(under Resources section) and email it to us at
[email protected] or mail it to: Club HEAL, Blk
244, Bukit Batok East Ave 5, #01-02, Singapore
650244. We look forward to hearing from you!

Snapshots of Past Events

1: TAS (Together Against Stigma) Conference @ MBS – 3-5 October Patron in Chief
The Club HEAL team actively took part in this conference with a booth. Mdm Halimah Yacob
Dr Radiah, Ms Baizura and Ms Sumaiyah shared at three breakout sessions.
Patrons
2: WMHD (World Mental Health Day) Celebrations and Mr Zaqy Mohamad 
Book Launch @ WGS (Wisma Geylang Serai) – 9 October  Mdm Rahayu Mahzam
President Halimah Yacob graced this lovely celebration with dance, song,
poetry and peer sharing. “A Worthwhile Duty” and its Malay version Hon Advisors
“Kewajipan Berbaloi” were launched. Dr Joseph Leong Jern-Yi
Dr Habeebul Rahman
3: Older but Wiser Forum: A Smooth Departure @ NKF HQ – 10 October Dr Norhisham Main
Counsellor Balqis shared a Muslim counsellor’s perspective of death and Dr Sharifah Mariam Aljunied
dying at this interfaith forum by TheVeryQuietStudio.
Hon Legal Counsel
4: Sessions @ BB Library – 12 October; 19 October; 1–31 October Ms Roslina Baba
Peers from Our Healing Voice programme shared their recovery stories and
the art work of Club HEAL peers were displayed at the Bukit Batok Library Management Committee
under the guidance of our Programme Coordinators and our Art Instructor, Nhawfal. President
Dr Radiah Salim
5: Asyafaah’s PKS Launch cum Hi Tea @ Furama City Centre – 19 October Vice-President
The Club HEAL PKS Team attended Asyafaah’s Hi Tea, where Dr Radiah Dr Zuraimi Mohd Dahlan
explained to the audience our Program Keluarga Syifa’. Mr Amrin Amin was GOH. Hon Treasurer
Ms Fauziah Mohd Hussein
6: Booth @ IMH World Mental Health Day Carnival – 26 October Hon Asst Treasurer
The Club HEAL Rehab team ran a booth at the carnival and sold books and Mr Muhammad Fithri Daud
handicraft items to visitors. Hon Secretary
Ms Noorunnisa Ibrahim Kutty
7: Booth @ Raikan Ilmu Festival, OTH – 2-3 November Hon Asst Secretary
Our Eastern CREST team was out in full force with the support of volunteers from AIC. Ms Rohizan Talib

8: Booth @ Bukit Batok East Health Fair – 3 November Members
Club HEAL contributed a booth to this event graced by Mdm Rahayu Mahzam. Ms Amarjit Kaur
Dr Bibi Jan Ayyub
9: Student workshop @ Al-Mukminin Mosque – 16 November Ms Deena Bajrai
Dr Radiah reached out to 50 female secondary school students  about managing Ms Eunice Olsen
mental and emotional health. Mr John Ho
Ms Nur Izzati Zainuddin
10: Branch Opening @ Buangkok – 21 November  Ms Siti Aishah Jaafar
Our Buangkok Centre was offcially opened by GOH Dr Intan Azura Moktar. Guests were Ms Siti Hawa Sulaiman
treated to performances by the Club HEALers, as well as refreshments and door gifts. Ms Siti Noor Baizura Rahmatullah
Ms Tazrinah Hussein
Upcoming Events
Editorial Team
1.Our Healing Voice (OHV) Graduation Ceremony – 11 January 2020 
2.Forum “Digital Detox” @ Al-Mukminin  Mosque – 1 February 2020 Chief Editor
3.Community Care Conference 2020 – 13-15 February 2020 Ms Noorunnisa Ibrahim Kutty

Pledge Your Support Editorial Team Members
Dr Radiah Salim
Do help people with mental health challenges receive the support they need. Ms Sumaiyah Mohamed
Ms Yohanna Abdullah
HOW TO GIVE? Interbank transfer - OCBC Current Account
641372131001. Kindly email [email protected] Designer
Online at www.giving.sg/club-heal with your name, NRIC, address, date of transfer Ms Marina Chong
and gift amount.
Cheque (crossed & made payable to
'Club HEAL'). Mail to Club HEAL Head Should you have any questions, or wish to make a
Office - 244 Bukit Batok East Ave 5 #01-02 deep and lasting contribution to Club HEAL,
Singapore 650244 through a major gift, please get in touch with
Fund Manager, Ms Marina Chong at
[email protected] / +65 8488 5130