But Madam Gayathri Ramprasad, 46, is not only past all that, but has recast herself as an international advocate for mental health: She runs her own mental health consultancy in the United States and a non-profit organisation to promote mental health awareness and build communities of recovery.

In town for the Asia-Pacific Psychiatric Rehabilitation Conference, at the Institute of Mental Health last week, she shared her experiences at a talk and urged mental health care-givers to help 'light a candle' in the lives of their patients.

Read April Chong's full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.