WengsWorld - Jigsaws and Mental Health

I've not really seen any formal research or studies that links making jigsaw puzzles with better mental health. Intuitively however, I'm guessing that there should be some benefits. After all, when one is making puzzles, you're using your eyes to look and search, using your fingers to touch and feel, and most importantly using your brain to rotate pieces, fit them, and ultimately create the picture. If you happen to be doing the puzzle with another person, there's also the social and interaction aspect as you talk to, listen to and communicate with your partner.

I'm going to be doing a puzzle activity with the clients of the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) YouthReach soon. Their centre at Tiong Bahru is run by Mr Ang Poh Hee. Poh Hee and I knew each other from the time we were both previously working in children and youth services. We met up over lunch about a month and a half ago, after many years of not being in contact with each other. As we talked about what we were doing, the topic of jigsaws came up and we decided we could try this out with the clients of SAMH. And so next month, I will be doing a 2 hour jigsaw activity with some of their youth.

For my friend Poh Hee, he is always on the look out for activities to keep his youth engaged and occupied. For the holidays especially, since his clients don't have school, he and his staff have to double their efforts to keep engaging the youth. He would certainly welcome anyone who wishes to volunteer their ideas or time. The organisation's website is www.samhealth.org.sg

For me, in my more than 13 years in social services previously, I never actually worked directly with mental health clients; it was mostly children and youth. So this is something quite new for me too, and something I'm looking forward to. Let's see how it turns out  :)