Meet Somesh
For CTPCLC alumnus Somesh Sailesh, community leadership begins with understanding people.
Whether supporting students experiencing mental health challenges, teaching the next generation of peer supporters, or embarking on a PhD in Social Work, one idea has remained constant throughout his journey: meaningful support starts with listening deeply to people's lived experiences.
Somesh is currently a Student Wellness Manager at the National University of Singapore, where his role encompasses therapeutic intervention, case management, mental health programmes, and university-wide wellness initiatives. He also teaches and mentors students in the Peer Supporting Peer programme. In August, he will begin a part-time PhD in Social Work under the supervision of Professor Jungup Lee.
His journey, however, began much earlier at the Chua Thian Poh Community Leadership Centre (CTPCLC), where he joined as a Research Fellow while completing his undergraduate studies.
In 2020, Somesh graduated from NUS with a Bachelor of Social Sciences, majoring in Social Work with a second major in South Asian Studies. He was also named the Valedictorian and Class Champion for his graduating Social Work cohort. It is a combination that often surprises people.
"People often ask how Social Work and South Asian Studies fit together. For me, they complemented each other naturally. Social Work taught me how to work alongside individuals, families and communities, while South Asian Studies deepened my understanding of my roots, culture, history, identity and the social forces that shape people's lives. Together, they reinforced an important lesson that has stayed with me throughout my career, that effective helping always begins with understanding people in the context of their lived experiences."
That philosophy was one reason CTPCLC and its work engaging directly with communities and policy makers appealed to him.
One experience stands out in particular: working on the dementia-friendly neighbourhood project in Kebun Bahru, Ang Mo Kio.
"Partnering with community organisations, speaking with residents, and translating their lived experiences into research and recommendations showed me how evidence can be used to influence policy while remaining grounded in the voices of the community."
Equally influential was the mentorship he received at the Centre. He says he was deeply influenced by Prof Huang Hoon Chng and Dr Satveer Kaur-Gill, who "encouraged intellectual curiosity while constantly reminding us to remain grounded in humility, empathy, and the lived realities of the communities we seek to serve."
"Perhaps”, he continues, “the most enduring lesson I took away from CTPCLC was learning to ask better questions. Meaningful research begins not with assumptions, but with listening deeply, being comfortable with complexity, and remaining open to perspectives that challenge our own."
After graduation, Somesh spent four years at Viriya Community Services, supporting individuals and families experiencing trauma, family violence, and mental health challenges before becoming Clinical Team Lead. Those years fundamentally shaped how he understood social work.
"Social work is rarely about 'fixing' people's lives. Instead, it is about walking alongside people during some of their most vulnerable moments, helping them recognise their own strengths and supporting them as they move forward."
Today, that commitment continues in a different setting. As Student Wellness Manager at NUS, Somesh chose to move "upstream" by supporting students before crises escalate while helping to build a broader culture of care across the university.
"Whether I'm working with a student one-to-one, teaching future peer supporters, or designing wellness initiatives, what motivates me most is creating spaces where people feel seen, supported and able to thrive."
Beginning a PhD is, for him, another extension of that same mission.
His research will focus on developing a culturally responsive LGBTQIA+ affirmative mental health framework for Singapore's higher education context, bridging frontline practice with research that can inform practitioners, universities, and policymakers.
Importantly, he does not see practice, research, and teaching as separate careers.
"I've never viewed clinical practice, teaching and research as separate paths. To me, they form a continuous cycle. Practice raises important questions, research helps us explore those questions systematically, and teaching allows us to share knowledge with the next generation of practitioners who will continue improving practice."
Looking ahead, Somesh hopes to continue bridging academia, social service agencies, and government, ensuring that research does not remain on paper but translates into better support for communities.
Finally, he offers some advice to current and graduating CTPCLC students:
"Stay curious, stay humble, and never lose sight of the people behind the scenes."
"Your career does not have to follow a straight line. Whether you choose practice, research, policy or education, what matters most is staying connected to your purpose. If your work continues to improve the lives of others, you will always be moving in the right direction."