When Alice Yu Yuebo became a mother at 26, she faced the overwhelming tides of motherhood accompanied by a wave of mild depression during her last trimester. This challenging period, however, set the stage for a remarkable transformation through art that not only revitalized her own life but also inspired the creation of Mama on Palette, an organization dedicated to helping mothers in Singapore manage mental health through artistic expression.
Rediscovering Art as a Lifeline
Before her pivot back to art, Alice had put away her cartoonist pen for a corporate career. It was a vivid pregnancy dream that rekindled her love for drawing.
“I decided to pick up my pen and pencil again to illustrate the story I had in my dream,” Alice explains. “The process of storytelling, drawing, and coloring soothed my emotions and eventually helped me walk out of baby blues.”
Her personal revival through art sparked an idea: could other mothers benefit from this too? Alice started sharing her journey online, quickly resonating with other mothers who saw art as a vital outlet for their mental wellness.
“Believing in the healing power of art, I started off sharing my experiences online. Gradually, I was approached by mothers via social media. They had similar stories and found art an outlet to their mental wellness,” she recalls.
Founding Mama on Palette
In April 2018, Alice formally established Mama on Palette as a community on Facebook. It began as a group for mothers who shared a passion for art, organizing playdates at museums and art galleries. But as the pandemic halted physical gatherings in 2020, Alice saw a new opportunity to deepen their impact.
“We could not do any physical engagement, so the idea of having a Mother’s Day art exhibition came to mind,” she recalls.
Despite the challenges, Alice mobilized a group of mother artists to showcase their work, emphasizing that “even though there was a social distance restriction among people, there shouldn’t be a distance required between people and art.”
At first, Alice was worried if other mums would actually be “signing up” as members given they have enjoyed free and easy community services in the past years. But to her surprise, within just one month, they had 100 members who each paid a $50 annual fee to join the community.
Growing Impact and Community Engagement
Mama on Palette rapidly evolved from informal meet-ups to a registered entity with over 300 paying members, all within a year.
“It gave me hope and affirmation—that Mama on Palette is adding value to the mothers,” Alice shares. The community not only supports mothers artistically but also connects them to mental health resources and experts, gradually breaking down the stigmas associated with mental health issues among mothers.
The Struggles Mothers Face
Alice is acutely aware of the mental health challenges that mothers in her community face. “Mothers often bear the brunt of familial responsibilities, leading to heightened stress levels,” she notes, emphasizing the critical need for support that goes beyond traditional care. The isolation felt by many mums during the pandemic has only intensified these challenges, making communities like Mama on Palette even more essential.
Although discussing maternal mental health is becoming more common in Singapore, Alice points out that not everyone actively seeks help for mental wellness issues. Nonetheless, Mama on Palette aims to offer a welcoming path for recovery through art and the support of fellow mothers.
“While there may be communities that specifically address mental health issues, women may not be comfortable being seen as joining these communities and support groups directly. Our project gives them a lesser barrier, an option to join a community that focuses on Art and wellbeing,” she shares.
“Through the many activities, our participants can explore the topic of mental well-being through art and the shared experiences of others, slowly open up and get educated on these sensitive topics. The community also provides them with a sense of belonging.”
There aren’t enough funding options, and affordable community spaces are hard to come by, making it tough to get the necessary resources and support. But, Mama on Palette is working on this—initiatives like their Mother’s Day exhibit and the launch of their coffee table book, Site.MA, helps raise the money needed to support women who want to be part of their projects.
Alice’s Vision and Advice
Looking ahead, Alice hopes to leverage technology to enhance community engagement and support for mothers. Her advice to other mothers is poignant and practical: “Mental health is equal to, if not more important than physical health… don’t be too hard on yourselves if by the end of the day, you are still left with a long ‘to-do’ list. It is OK.”
As for her Mother’s Day wish, Alice yearns for more time—time to focus on oneself, one’s passions, and rest. But she knows the reality: “There’s only 24 hours a day, so we need to delegate our tasks or plan our day smartly.”
We asked Alice to complete the trending social media phrase, “I’m a mom, of course …” and she confidently replied, “I’m a mom, of course I’m capable!” She wants other moms to embrace this same sense of empowerment—recognizing their ability to take control of their mental health. Her work with Mama on Palette powerfully reflects this conviction.
“By leveraging our expertise in art and creativity, our community can play a pivotal role in closing these gaps and empowering women, particularly mothers, to prioritise their mental wellness and artistic expression in a supportive and inclusive environment.”
Alice Yu Yuebo’s journey from a struggling new mum to the leader of a thriving community illustrates the transformative power of art and the critical importance of addressing maternal mental health. Mama on Palette continues to inspire and empower mothers, proving that with the right support, art can be a profound healer.
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