Openness, identity, and living beyond stigma (with Dr. Rayner Tan)

About this episode

Dr. Chua Sook Ning and Dr. Rayner Tan discuss the Honest, Open, Proud initiative and the complexities of disclosing stigmatized experiences.

Dr. Chua Sook Ning sits down with Dr. Rayner Tan to explore the Honest, Open, Proud (HOP) initiative, a peer-led programme designed to support thoughtful decisions around disclosing stigmatised experiences. While the conversation begins with HOP in mind, it unfolds in a more personal and reflective direction. Dr. Rayner speaks candidly about his own experiences of openness, and the tensions that can come with sharing aspects of one’s life in public or professional spaces, while Dr. Chua, in turn, reflects on moments from her own journey, offering a perspective shaped by both clinical work and lived experience. Together, they consider what it means to disclose, when it feels right to do so, and what it can cost. The discussion touches on the risks, the responsibilities, and the broader social context in which these decisions are made, including the role of public understanding in shaping how people are received. To find out more about HOP, visit: https://hopprogram.org

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Chua Sook Ning

Guest: Dr. Rayner Tan

Topics covered

• openness
• identity
• stigma
• mental health
• peer support

Keywords

• openness
• identity
• stigma
• mental health
• HOP
• peer-led programme
• disclosure

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Honest, Open, Proud (HOP), HOP

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