She fell into depression after her husband left her for another woman. Now, she walks with the brokenhearted

In March 2017, Jane Chin’s world collapsed.

She had received several wedding photos of her husband with a Vietnamese woman. Only then did she discover that he had built another family overseas.

“I couldn’t believe it. I even thought there must have been some black magic involved because I trusted my husband completely,” Jane recalled. “He was perfect in my eyes.”

Now 62, Jane had earlier left her job as an insurance agent to support her husband in his distribution business after several of his ventures failed. While she managed operations in Singapore, he handled overseas matters and travelled frequently.

Jane believes he met the woman – who is 26 years younger than him – while abroad, when he was in his 40s.

When Jane confronted her husband, he admitted to the affair and made several unsuccessful attempts to end the relationship in Vietnam.

“In the end, he wanted both relationships,” Jane said. “But because I couldn’t accept that, he finally left me in June 2017.”

Into the darkness

The spilt spent Jane on a downward spiral.

“I went into shock and could no longer think straight,” she recalled. She was admitted to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), where she was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.

Even then, Jane continued pleading with her husband – whom she had met in church and share two daughters with – to return. During a phone call in August 2017, she told him in tears: “I can’t live without you.”

“When he slammed down the phone, it felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest,” she recalled.

In a moment of deep despair, Jane attempted suicide. Her daughter later found her semi-conscious at home and called for an ambulance. Jane was rushed to Changi General Hospital and admitted to the intensive care unit for emergency treatment.

“After three days in a coma, I woke up without any permanent damage to my internal organs,” Jane said. “The doctors told my daughter it was a miracle that I survived.”

Between June 2017 and January 2018, Jane was admitted to IMH six times, spending a total of about four months in there.

Her struggle with major depression and anxiety would stretch on for three and a half years.

A turning point

During that season, Jane sensed a clear message from God: Attend a Bible school. “No one had ever invited me to Bible school before,” she said.

Yet just two days later, a cousin asked if she wanted to attend Tung Ling Bible School. “If she had asked me at any other time, I would have said no,” Jane shared. “But because I had already received that message from God, I knew it was His leading – and I signed up immediately.”

Subsequently, Jane also attended Trinity Theological College (TTC) as a non-registered student. “I was there simply to soak in God’s presence,” she said, adding that those theological institutions became “my hospitals for healing and recuperation”.

In July 2020, another phone call with her husband where “he told me that he had moved on happily” triggered two panic attacks within 24 hours – something that had never happened before.

Months earlier, Jane had been introduced to the practice of silent retreats while at TTC. So instead of returning to IMH, she went on a three-day silent retreat at Pasir Ris beach – from sunrise to sunset – immersing herself in Scripture, worship and prayer.

“On the third day, God said to me: ‘You can live without him’,” Jane recalled. “God used my own words to show me the lie I had believed. In that moment, I was completely set free.”

After the breakthrough, Jane found herself listening to the worship song “David Danced (Let the Heavens Be Glad)” on repeat.

“I was dancing around the pavilion like King David danced before the Lord,” she said. “Just days earlier, I had been deeply depressed and suicidal. And suddenly, I was overflowing with joy!”

Choosing a different path

Looking back, Jane now sees purpose even in her pain.

“During one of my stays at IMH, God impressed upon me that He treasured and kept every tear I had shed,” Jane shared. “I now know that nothing is wasted or coincidental. God uses every experience I’ve gone through – even the painful ones – to prepare me to do His will.”

Since her recovery, Jane has been serving as a full-time volunteer across various social service settings, offering others the same comfort she had received from God.

“Anyone who is depressed, heartbroken, divorced, betrayed or feeling hopeless, I can identify with them,” she said. “Because I understand their pain, my heart is burdened to journey with them.”

Having spent decades striving in the commercial world, Jane now feels called to invest her remaining good years differently.

“I want to work hard for God’s Kingdom – to do what truly matters, to honour God and bring glory to Him,” she said. “And one of the ways I can love those whom He loves in the most direct way is through volunteering.”

Walking with seniors

Since 2022, Jane has been volunteering as a befriender and programme facilitator to meaningfully engage socially isolated seniors at Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Active Ageing Centre – Golden Lily@Pasir Ris (GLAAC).

One of her befriendees, a widow in her 80s, was struggling with depression and loneliness. During her earlier visits, the senior often teared while sharing her story.

Over time, however, Jane noticed a change. The once-withdrawn widow became more cheerful and began participating in the activities at the AAC. Staff also observed that she had become hopeful about life.

“I was so encouraged by her transformation,” Jane said. “She would prepare tea and sing karaoke to show her appreciation during our visits! It was heartening to see that our companionship made such a difference in her life.”

Jane (in white and blue shirt) conducting a reminiscence facilitation session at MWS Active Ageing Centre – Golden Lily@Pasir Ris.

In 2024, when fellow volunteer and divorcee Emily Tan, 71, suffered a stroke, Jane also took the initiative to visit her regularly.

Largely homebound after the stroke, Emily had to adjust to living with a domestic helper to support her daily needs. Frequent conflicts with her helper took a toll on her mood and mental well-being.

Through consistent visits, Jane offered encouragement, a listening ear and practical advice – helping Emily not only cope mentally, but also easing tensions and improving her relationship with her domestic helper.

In addition, Jane also develops and leads reminiscence facilitation sessions, which encourages seniors to recall and share memories from their past, at the AAC.

“When I see others encouraged and uplifted, I feel deeply satisfied, knowing that I’ve loved them with the love of Christ,” said Jane (left), pictured here with the seniors she befriends at the AAC.

She recalled a senior participant in his 70s with mild cognitive impairment, who always turned up looking gloomy and uninterested. That all changed during one session when the theme was on childhood.

“He came alive and talkative while sharing about how he would go longkang fishing, and climb the trees to pluck the fruits,” Jane said with a chuckle. “Nobody knew this independent and brave side of him, and we all enjoyed listening to his stories!”

Comforting broken hearts

Beyond MWS, Jane also volunteers in prison ministry, serves at a children’s home and counsels individuals in distress who are referred to her.

Jane recalled journeying with a woman in her 50s who had battled major depression for decades. She was well acquainted with the woman and her husband, owners of a small retail business in a shopping mall, as she had been witnessing to them regularly over nearly two years.

“The wife hated me,” Jane recalled. “Whenever she saw me, she would walk away and call me 阴魂不散 (a persistent nuisance).”

In 2023, however, the woman suffered a mental breakdown after her husband was involved in a slashing incident. “She became suicidal and couldn’t be left alone,” Jane shared.

Recognising the urgency of the situation, Jane roped in four members from her cell group and took turns with them to accompany and support the woman during this critical period.

Over time, the woman came to accept Christ and has been attending church regularly for more than two years. “She is even witnessing to others now,” Jane shared. The woman’s husband, who is currently serving a prison sentence, has also since accepted Christ.

“One of my burdens is simply this: To comfort broken hearts,” Jane said, adding that witnessing lives changed keeps her going. “When I see others encouraged and uplifted, I feel deeply satisfied, knowing that I’ve loved them with the love of Christ.”

Isaiah 61 holds special meaning for her. “I always tell people I am beauty from ashes,” Jane said. “This verse encourages us that even from deep pain, something beautiful can emerge.”

Be part of the journey

To build a culture of volunteerism, Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) launched The Healing Nation initiative in 2025.

The initiative rallies the community to give back to Singapore through a wide range of volunteer opportunities from more than 100 charities.

To be part of a growing community of volunteers bringing hope and change, visit www.thehealingnation.sg.

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