After decades in various careers, 53-year-old Frieda Tan shares her journey to a fulfilling role in mental health care.
It took Frieda Tan over a decade of exploring various professions to discover her true calling. Now 53, Frieda is a dedicated psychiatric nurse, but her journey to this role was anything but conventional.
Starting as a police officer at 18, Frieda embraced the challenges and teamwork the job entailed. However, a yearning for something more fulfilling led her to join the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) two years later, where she thrived on discipline and leadership. Despite these experiences, she found herself searching for deeper purpose and eventually transitioned to the corporate world, working as a financial advisor for eight years.
By her early 30s, Frieda was at a crossroads, questioning the meaning of her work and life. Conversations with friends helped her realize her empathetic nature and drive to help others could find a home in nursing. Encouraged, she enrolled in an accelerated Diploma in Nursing course at 33, unaware that her true passion—psychiatric nursing—was just around the corner.
A Life-Changing Decision
During her orientation at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Frieda was exposed to patients facing mental health challenges, sparking a commitment to provide specialized care. Two decades later, she is an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) with IMH’s Mobile Crisis Team and Crisis Response Team.
Her work involves responding to community mental health emergencies, often alongside the police, to assess and support individuals experiencing crises. Whether through home visits or on-site evaluations, Frieda and her team aim to de-escalate situations and connect patients with appropriate resources, from counseling to rehabilitation services.
Rewards Amid Challenges
The role comes with intense challenges, but Frieda finds it deeply rewarding. One poignant memory involves a young patient from a disadvantaged background. Despite his critical condition, Frieda worked tirelessly to fulfill his last wish: experiencing the Christmas lights on Orchard Road. This experience left an indelible mark on her, reinforcing the importance of compassionate care.
Frieda’s work has also included aiding children and adolescents, many with conditions like autism or ADHD. Initially daunting, these interactions became a source of joy as she built rapport with her young patients, receiving heartfelt tokens of gratitude from them.
Shifting Perspectives in Mental Health Care
Over the years, Frieda has witnessed significant changes in psychiatric care, shifting from symptom-focused treatments to holistic approaches involving families and communities. Beyond medical interventions, this care model emphasizes rehabilitation and socio-emotional support, empowering patients to regain stability and independence.
Encouraging New Generations
As someone who found her purpose later in life, Frieda advocates for others to consider nursing, especially in mental health. With the profession offering ample opportunities for growth and professional development, she believes it’s never too late to embark on a new path.
“I am 53 this year and still learning,” she shares. Having recently completed the Collaborative Practitioners Prescribing Programme, she is now equipped to prescribe medications under supervision, marking another milestone in her career.
For Frieda, nursing is more than a job—it’s a privilege to make a difference daily. Her advice to aspiring healthcare workers is simple: “If you have the passion to care, go for it. At the heart of it, it’s all about the patients we treat.”
