For many young people, understanding why they think, feel or respond differently can take time. The people around them can either make that process easier — or leave them feeling as though they need to fit into an idea of who they are supposed to be.

That idea sits at the heart of “Piecing You Together”, the theme of MUS Zenith Affair (MUS.za)’s seventh annual Give While You Get fundraising campaign.

The Singapore high jewellery boutique is supporting SHINE Children and Youth Services for the second consecutive year, with funds going towards its ResiL!ence community mental health service for youths aged 12 to 25.

The campaign began in August and will culminate in a Charity Fundraising Dinner at Raffles Hotel Singapore on 9 November 2026.

A campaign inspired by a late ADHD diagnosis

For MUS.za founder Esther Ho, this year’s theme is particularly personal.

Her involvement with SHINE in 2025 prompted her to undergo a psychological assessment herself, where she learnt that she had been living with previously undiagnosed ADHD for much of her life.

Rather than viewing the diagnosis negatively, Ho said it helped her make sense of experiences that had gone unexplained for years.

“Along the way, I’ve found my own missing pieces to be who I am today,”

– Esther Ho, founder of MUS.za

Her experience has since strengthened her resolve to help young people understand themselves earlier, rather than spending years wondering why they may think, behave or respond differently from those around them.

Ho also hopes the adults supporting them can give young people the patience and space to work things out for themselves instead of expecting them to fit into a predetermined idea of who they should be.

“That’s what I want for every young person we reach through this campaign — for those around them to show the patience needed to help them find their own pieces, instead of forcing them to fit into somebody else’s puzzle,” she said.

The subject has also hit close to home. Ho has spoken about watching a younger family member withdraw from the world for months at a time, reinforcing for her that youth mental health is not simply an abstract social issue.

Why early mental health support matters

The campaign comes amid continued concern about the mental wellbeing of younger people in Singapore.

According to figures cited by the campaign organisers, the number of school-going children aged 18 and below seen in public hospitals with a diagnosed mental health disorder increased from 2,648 in 2024 to 3,089 in 2025.

The number diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental condition also rose from 8,449 to 9,114 over the same period.

Separately, the 2024 National Youth Mental Health Study by the Institute of Mental Health found that around one in three youths aged 15 to 35 experienced severe or extremely severe mental health concerns, including depression and anxiety. However, only about one-fifth had sought formal medical support.

That gap between experiencing distress and seeking help is one area that community-based programmes such as SHINE’s ResiL!ence are intended to address.

ResiL!ence provides youth-friendly mental health support in schools and community settings. Its work includes mental health roadshows, talks and group sessions covering areas such as emotional resilience, stress and burnout.

The programme also aims to support earlier identification of mental health needs and connect young people with appropriate services when further help is required.

Rather than replacing formal mental healthcare, it provides another possible first point of contact for youths who may not yet be ready to seek clinical support.

Turning the puzzle metaphor into jewellery

MUS.za has also translated the “Piecing You Together” theme into a jewellery collection.

The boutique created a six-piece gold puzzle pendant lined with pavé diamonds, with individual pieces designed to connect to form a larger whole. Friends can collect different pieces together, while additional pieces can be incorporated into the design on request.

The puzzle motif is intended to represent the idea that identity, self-understanding and wellbeing are made up of many different parts — and that those pieces do not necessarily have to come together all at once.

However, the campaign goes beyond the jewellery itself.

In August, MUS.za partnered with SHINE for a jewellery design workshop involving youths supported through SHINE’s mental health services. Selected designs from the workshop are expected to be showcased during the November fundraising dinner.

The initiative gives the young participants a creative role within the campaign rather than positioning them solely as beneficiaries of it.

Young people taking part in the campaign

Youth involvement will also extend to the November fundraising dinner.

Victoria Grace Lee, 13, Brendon Tan, 15, and Ian Lee, 12, will take on co-hosting duties at the event.

The Charity Fundraising Dinner, which will be held at Raffles Hotel Singapore, will feature fundraising activities involving donated jewellery, products, experiences and service vouchers. Jewellery created through the youth workshop will also be showcased.

How can the public support the campaign?

Although it is unclear whether the fundraising dinner itself is open to the general public, support for Give While You Get is not limited to the November event.

People can support the campaign by making a donation or purchasing from MUS.za during the fundraising period.

Supporters who donate or make purchases during the campaign can also take part in the boutique’s #CharityAmbassador initiative. Participants are photographed at MUS.za and encouraged to share their portraits on social media to help raise awareness of the youth mental health cause within their own communities.

Funds raised through the campaign support SHINE’s youth mental health work, including mental health education, early identification and first-stop emotional support.

Those who would like to learn more about the fundraising campaign can visit MUS Zenith Affair, while more information about ResiL!ence and SHINE’s youth programmes is available through SHINE Children and Youth Services.

Building on S$370,000 raised in 2025

MUS.za first supported SHINE through Give While You Get in 2025, raising approximately S$370,000 for its youth mental health work.

The funds contributed to SHINE’s wider efforts in areas including mental health literacy, psychoeducation, early identification and emotional support for young people experiencing psychological distress.

No fixed fundraising target has been announced for the 2026 campaign.

The campaign’s message, however, extends beyond the amount ultimately raised.

Mental health conversations frequently focus on encouraging people to seek help. Yet one of the challenges that can come before that is simply understanding what they are experiencing — particularly for young people who may not yet have the language to explain why they feel or function differently.

“Piecing You Together” approaches that conversation from another direction: by acknowledging that understanding yourself can be an ongoing process, and that young people do not necessarily need to have every piece figured out immediately.

Images: MUS Zenith Affair