My route to Psychiatry was circuitous compared to most of my colleagues’. After junior college, I received a government scholarship to pursue studies in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Economics and Psychology at Cornell University.

The first time my interest in Psychiatry was piqued was in a course on psychopathology at Cornell, called Abnormal Psychology. I recall distinctly the first words uttered by the professor in the first lecture – “we are all abnormal in some way.” These words left a deep impression. It was a lesson in humility: we have our idiosyncrasies and foibles, which, if the ideals of inclusivity and tolerance were abandoned, would probably be regarded as defects. Yet, at the same time, we are much more similar to one another in that we share the same human nature and the same vulnerability to decompensate psychologically and become ill.

My interest was shelved while I fulfilled the scholarship bond. Duke-NUS Medical School was set up in Singapore a few years later, offering a chance to pursue a medical education as a graduate. To be very certain about making the leap, I pursued a bridging Masters degree in Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University before applying to Duke-NUS.

When it came time to commit to specialist training, I was inspired by Dr. William Tan (https://www.drwilliamtan.net). He is the personification of fortitude and resilience, demonstrating how a robust mind can overcome physical limitations and adversity. Conversely, I have also witnessed, during Psychiatry postings in medical school, how a troubled mind has the power to incapacitate able-bodied persons. This made me decide to channel my energy towards helping troubled minds.

1. We are more alike than different

I may be the doctor and you the patient, but what is common to us is more fundamental. We feel the same range of emotions, and probably respond in similar manners to many situations. I am not here to judge or dictate. I am here as a fellow human to understand your struggles, and to use my knowledge to help. In fact, my suggestions may sometimes not even be strictly medical advice, but an exchange of personal experience, from one human to another.

2. You have your perspectives, I would like to hear them

Whether they are about my perception of your difficulties or about proposed interventions. We are partners in the journey to helping you feel better, and this partnership would not work out if you don’t feel empowered to provide feedback.

3. Knowledge is power

And the power is amplified when knowledge is shared. It’s simple: If you understand your condition and the rationale for interventions better, you are more likely to be motivated to follow through with the interventions, and therefore more likely to feel better.

4. Illness and wellness are not the flip sides of each other

Having a psychiatric illness does not diminish how well you can live your life. On the other hand, if you don’t have a psychiatric illness but constantly feel miserable, your misery isn’t less valid or taken less seriously. No matter which group you belong to, you can work towards becoming the happiest version of yourself. I sincerely wish that you will find faith, hope, love, and maybe a little luck, to take you there, and I would like to walk alongside you.

My previous practice in government-restructured hospitals has mainly been in General Psychiatry, which covers a wide range of conditions including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, trauma- and stress-related disorders, and sleep-wake disorders. I have developed and delivered mental health services for special populations like adolescents and elderly residents in nursing homes. In addition to my work at Mindscape Wellbeing Psychiatry, I continue to serve as a Visiting Consultant for nursing homes.

During the course of my career, I have acquired experience and interest in applications of Psychiatry in the legal domain. These include assessment of decision-making capacity for a myriad of issues ranging from will-making to consenting for medical treatment, as well as provision of specialist input for civil lawsuits and claims.

Beyond the confines of clinical psychiatry, I also have a keen interest in Positive Psychological Interventions, which I believe embody wisdom about living well and are a potent set of tools to help everyone achieve greater psychological wellness.

Please refer to my LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/in/wei-shyan-lim-144807253/) for a complete list.

Qualifications:

• Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Singapore

• Qualified as Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych), United Kingdom

• Accredited by the Specialist Accreditation Board, Singapore

Languages:

• English

• Mandarin

• Hokkien

Experience:

• General Psychiatry

• Subspecialty experience in Child/Adolescent Psychiatry, Old Age Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, Community Psychiatry, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Emergency Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry

• Mental Capacity Assessments

• Clinical supervision of primary care physicians in Health and Mind Clinic, Yishun Polyclinic and Woodlands Polyclinic (2018 – 2023)

• Specialist discussant in multidisciplinary case conferences with: Adult Protective Service (APS) agencies (2018), HCA Hospice (2018 – 2019), Asian Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA) (2020 – 2022), Aging in Place Community Care Team (AIP-CCT) (from 2022, ongoing)

Clinical Appointments

• Consultant Psychiatrist at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) (2018 – 2023)

• Visiting Consultant at KTPH (2023)

• Visiting Consultant for Mental Health Screening Service at Republic Polytechnic (2018 – 2023).

• Visiting Consultant at Villa Francis Home for the Aged, All Saints Home (from 2018, ongoing)

• Mental Capacity Assessor, appointed under the Vulnerable Adults Act (2018 – 2023)

Educational Appointments

• Associate Programme Director (KTPH), National Residency Programme for Psychiatry (2021 – Jan 2023)

• Core Clinical Faculty Member, National Residency Programme for Psychiatry (2021 – Jan 2023)

• Clinical Teacher, Clinical Practice Facilitator and Content Expert, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (2020 – Jan 2023)

• Clinical Block Lead (Psychiatry – KTPH), Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (2020 – Jan 2023)

• Adjunct Lecturer, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (2021 – Jan 2023)

• Clinical Lecturer, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (2018 – Jan 2023)

Other Appointments

• Deputy Director, Assessment and Shared Care Team (ASCAT) at KTPH (2018 – 2023)

• Chairperson, Peer Review Learning Committee, Department of Psychological Medicine, KTPH (2018 – 2023)

• Project Lead, Teleconsultation Workgroup, Department of Psychological Medicine, KTPH (2020 – 2021)

• Member, Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee, KTPH (2020 – Jan 2023)

• Member, New Generation Electronic Medical Records (NGEMR) Disease Registry Workgroup (Mental Health), National Healthcare Group (NHG) (2021 – Jan 2023)

• Member, Community Mental Health (CMH) Training Resources Workgroup, Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) (2022 – Jan 2023)

Awards

• Special Recognition Award, AY2021/2022, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (2022)

• Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (2021, 2022)

• NHG Teaching Excellence Award for Senior Doctors, National Healthcare Group (2021)

• Teaching Excellence Award (Undergraduates), Yishun Health (2019, 2022)