I’m in secondary school and my grades are dropping rapidly but I can’t bring myself to care. My lack of motivation has only gotten worst over the past year and I still can’t figure out what’s causing it. I don’t want my parents to worry, but when they ask me what I want to do in the future, I can’t really answer because I don’t even see a future for myself. I have constant thoughts about killing myself and I don’t really see anything worth living for anymore.
4 Likes
Dear @user0738
I’m thankful you reached out dear and sad to hear you’re feeling this way. It takes courage to share something so personal and painful, and I want you to know you’re not alone. There is help, and there are people who care about you and want to support you — not just with your studies, but with your well-being.
First and most important:
Please don’t face this alone.
There are professionals trained to help people through exactly what you’re feeling. If you’re in Singapore, here are some options:
Talk to Someone Now
IMH
IMH’s mental health hotline.
6389 2222
Samaritans of Singapore (SOS)
SOS operates a 24-hour hotline to provide emotional support for those in facing crisis or suicide risk
1800 221 4444
CHAT
The Community Health Assessment Team (CHAT) provides confidential mental health checks for young persons between 16 and 30 years old, who are currently living in Singapore. They operate CHAT hub, a mental health centre located at *SCAPE and maintains an online presence through their website and webchat.
6493 6500
6493 6501
https://www.chat.mentalhealth.sg/
Fei Yue Community Services- EC2
LIVE CHAT eC2 is an online facility offering free counselling to youths.
TOUCH Community Services – TOUCHline
Emotional support and practical advice are rendered through this youth helpline
1800 377 2252
Since You’re in School:
- Please consider talking to your school counsellor, form teacher, or student welfare officer with some urgency. They are there to help, not to punish or judge you. Many students go through tough periods — and opening up is a powerful step toward feeling better.
Some Things You Can Try (While Reaching Out for Help):
These won’t fix everything overnight, but they can give you space to breathe:
- Write it out – even if it feels messy. Journaling your thoughts (without pressure) can help you figure out patterns and pain points.
- Tell a trusted adult or friend – You don’t need to explain everything perfectly. Even saying “I’m not okay” is enough.
- Ask for a pause – If school is too overwhelming, speak with a teacher or counsellor about easing pressure temporarily. This is totally valid.
- Don’t try to force motivation – Right now, focus on getting support rather than trying to “snap out of it.” Healing isn’t about willpower alone.
You Deserve Help
You might not feel like you matter right now, but you do. Things can change — not magically, not instantly, but with support and time, you can find a way through this. The pain you’re feeling isn’t a permanent part of you. It’s something you’re going through, not who you are.
Please know we are here for you too so continue to reach out whenever you need to. You can get through this a tiny step at a time. 
1 Like
Hey, I’m really sorry you’re feeling this way. It sounds like you’re carrying a lot, and you’re definitely not alone—even if it feels like it right now. What you’re going through is serious, and your feelings are valid—but you don’t have to go through it alone.
There’s no shame in not having everything figured out, especially when things feel heavy. I’ve felt that pressure too—like I had to know exactly what I wanted to do with my future just because people kept asking. But the truth is, you’re still really young, and it’s okay not to have it all mapped out. Sometimes goals take time to form, and that’s completely normal.
Please, if you’re having thoughts of hurting yourself, reaching out to a trusted adult, school counselor, or mental health professional can help, like what @CaringBee has said. It might feel scary, but people do care, and you deserve support—genuinely 
.
Even if you can’t see your future clearly now, that doesn’t mean there isn’t one. Sometimes things feel the darkest just before they begin to shift. You matter, and your life has value—even when it doesn’t feel that way yet.
If you ever need to talk, we’re here to listen. You don’t have to carry all of this by yourself
3 Likes
hey @user0738, just wanted to say that i rlly hear you and empathise with what you’re going through 
. i felt pretty much the exact same way in jc. i had zero motivation, was failing miserably in my acads, yet couldn’t bring myself to care because i couldn’t envision a future with me in it. it felt like everything was collapsing around me, and i didn’t know how to get out.
what helped, slowly, was talking to sb about it, working through my emotions, and trying out different treatments. so i rlly encourage you to reach out too (whether it’s a trusted adult, a mental health professional, or one of the helplines the others have shared). healing doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s okay if it takes a few tries to find what works for you. be patient with yourself — you’re doing the best you can.
ik it doesn’t seem like it rn, but this heaviness and hopelessness you’re feeling WON’T last forever. things can shift in ways you might not even be able to fathom now, and you deserve to be here to see that happen.
we’re here with you. you matter so much, please hang on 
Hi there, thank you for sharing about how you’ve been feeling. It sounds like a very difficult and painful time, and I’m really glad that you took the step to share this here.
I can empathize with the feeling of wondering how do I even answer the question about the future. The experience you’re going through now is so much, and feels bleak, and thinking about the future is really hard.
It’s okay to take it one step at a time, one day at a time. What you’re feeling now is valid and matters so much, even as painful as they are. You’re not alone as well, and deserve to have support and care in this tough time. To have people worry a little about how you’re doing, because you are important and matter.