For more than 20 years, her work has bridged the gap between law and healthcare, giving voice to individuals whose struggles often go unseen — those living with mental health conditions, autism, intellectual disabilities, and other hidden disorders.
Her advocacy comes from a deeply personal understanding that health is not only physical but emotional, psychological, and social. Through her firm, PY Legal, Ms Yee regularly provides pro bono legal help to individuals whose actions may stem from underlying mental or neurological conditions. She often takes on cases where defendants face criminal charges but require treatment and rehabilitation, not punishment.
Health, Dignity, and the Law
At the heart of Ms Yee’s mission is the belief that the justice system must recognise mental and cognitive conditions as health issues, not moral failings. She has long called for expanded sentencing options — for example, for courts to consider Mandatory Treatment Orders (MTOs) for those with psychiatric or developmental disorders.
“People with invisible disabilities cannot always process information or articulate their rights clearly,” she said, highlighting how such individuals can be misunderstood or penalised instead of supported.
Her persistence led to the landmark Access to Justice Symposium in March 2025 — a collaborative effort between the legal, medical, and social service sectors. The symposium brought together over 400 professionals to discuss fair treatment for people with invisible disabilities. It also prompted the Ministry of Law to form a multi-agency task force dedicated to this cause.
Bringing Health Awareness to the Legal Sphere
Ms Yee’s initiatives go beyond courtroom advocacy. She pushes for systemic awareness — for police officers, court staff, and correctional officers to be trained in recognising neurodiversity and psychiatric symptoms. Her approach highlights that justice and health must coexist, and that fair treatment starts with understanding.
She also supports health education through her roles in community care. As vice-chairwoman of Canossaville Children and Community Services and board member of Caritas Singapore, she works to integrate mental health support, early intervention, and family counselling within the social fabric. Her vision is for Singapore to become a society that values psychological well-being as much as physical health.
A Personal Battle with Illness
Her dedication to health equity is also shaped by her own experience. In 2021, Ms Yee was diagnosed with Stage 2B breast cancer — a revelation that changed her relationship with health and resilience. Even as she underwent treatment, she continued advocating for her clients, including one with schizophrenia. “I have cancer inside me, but I can still talk, right?” she said, recalling her determination to attend the client’s sentencing hearing.
After 1½ years of treatment, Ms Yee went into remission, calling this period her “second lap in life.” Her recovery deepened her empathy toward those living with chronic conditions, invisible pain, and daily uncertainty. She now speaks openly about the importance of holistic health — mental, emotional, and spiritual — in navigating adversity.
A Vision for a Healthier, More Compassionate Society
Ms Yee’s advocacy aligns with a broader shift in Singapore towards recognising mental wellness and neurodiversity. She continues to call for healthcare partnerships within the justice system and for public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma around psychiatric and developmental disorders.
In her own words, “Empathy without action is just sentiment.”
Through her health-focused legal activism, Ms Peggy Yee embodies what it means to heal through justice — empowering others to be seen, heard, and treated with dignity. Her story is a testament to the power of compassion, not just to change laws, but to change lives
Original article at:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/be-part-of-the-solution-spore-lawyer-fights-for-people-with-invisible-disabilities
