The Covid-19 outbreak has severely impacted us in many ways, from restricting our abilities and freedom to travel, to changing our work and home routines as we’re forced indoors to help flatten the curve. It’s also affected us emotionally and mentally, as news reports say that mental health hotlines have seen a spike in the number of calls.
Whether it’s newfound anxiety and depression about getting retrenched or receiving a pay cut, or existing mental illness triggered by the stressful circumstances, it’s important to get help if you or someone you know is facing serious emotional troubles.
Major depression affects one in 16 people in Singapore.
According to the Singapore Mental Health Study 2018
According to the second Singapore Mental Health Study (published Dec 2018), one in seven people in Singapore have experienced a mood, anxiety or alcohol-use disorder. And of the conditions assessed, major depressive disorder (or major depression) was the most common, affecting one in 16 people here.
The study also found a significant treatment gap, in that many of those struggling did not seek professional help. It did not investigate the reasons for this, but past research suggest it could be due to the stigma of mental illness and the inability to recognise the symptoms.
Getting help for mental health-related issues should never be a source of embarrassment for anyone so, if you suspect might be fighting a battle with a mental illness, here are some places you look to for help.
Note: Due to circuit breaker measures, face-to-face consultations would only be allowed for patients with unstable mental health conditions (who are at risk of harming themselves or others), unless otherwise stated.
Family Life Society (FLS) is a non-profit charity, and although it’s not officially “religious”, the patron is the Catholic Archbishop of Singapore. That said, they explicitly state that they offer professional help to anyone and everyone, regardless or race, religion or background.
While FLS focuses on pregnancy and parenting counselling, they also support those struggling with personal and family issues.
FLS has volunteer-counsellors who offer free counselling services at 10 Catholic churches in Singapore.
Covid-19: Counselling services are still available via phone or video calls. To make an appointment, call 9126 9086/9838 1757 or fill up the form here.
Contact: 64880278 or 6382 0688 (Mon to Fri, 10am to 5pm)
Besides Care Corner and FLS, many churches also have volunteers who help with counselling. If you’re a Christian, it’s pretty straightforward: just check with your church.
But what if you’re not of the same faith? It may problematic if you are practising another religion, but if you’re considering church counselling services, you’re probably a free-thinker or have no religion.
If that’s the case, there’s no harm in finding out what the churches may have to offer. They’re unlikely to turn you down, and from what I’ve read online, most churches do help others in need as well.
Although some evangelism is to be expected, some churches like Wesley Methodist Church explicitly state on their website that they have non-religious counselling as well.
If you are uncomfortable with committing to an actual, in-person session, then you can consider a phone call or online helpline instead.
AWARE helpline: 1800-774 5935 (for women)
Care Corner Counselling Centre: 1800-353 5800 (for Mandarin counselling)
Fei Yue eCounselling Centre: Visit www.ec2.sg or www.egen.sg, or email admin@ec2.sg (an online counselling channel for youths)
Samaritans of Singapore (SOS): 1800-221 4444 (24-hour suicide prevention helpline)
Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH): 1800-283 7019 (for all mental health-related help)
Tinkle Friend helpline (by Singapore Children’s Society): 1800-274 4788 (Mon to Fri, 2.30pm to 5pm) or chat online at www.tinklefriend.com (for primary school children)
SCC offers professional counselling in not just English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil, but Chinese dialects Cantonese and Hokkien too. Their services are also available seven days a week, which may be good for those working on the weekdays.
There are different rates for individuals, couples, families and children and youth. A one-session package is $160.60 for individuals, $235.40 for couples, $160.50 for children and youth and $363.80 for families (4 pax).
You can buy up to 10-session packages, and save 10% to 20% on the per-session rates. There’s also a choice to see senior counsellors, but they are slightly more expensive.
Covid-19: The SCC is operating as usual during Circuit Breaker with face-to-face and video counselling sessions seven days a week.
Visit their website for more information or WhatApp 6339 5411 to book an appointment.
If budget is a concern, then the free counselling services are the first ones to check out. However, with all free (or heavily subsidised) healthcare services, it may be hard to get a first appointment. And if you decide to continue, the time between sessions will probably be longer than recommended.
If you can afford to pay a bit for counselling, there are some affordable and subsidised options too.
AWARE is a gender-equality advocacy group that helps women fight discrimination and other issues.
The counselling fees are charged at 1% of your monthly income (capped at $150). For example, if you earn $3,000 monthly, you will pay $30 per session.
For those who are not working, it will be $20. For sexual assault and harassment cases through the Sexual Assault Care Centre, the first three sessions are free.
Women’s Care Centre: 1800-777 5555 (Mon – Fri, 10am to 6pm)
Sexual Assault Care Centre: 6779 0282 or email sacc@aware.org.sg (Mon – Fri, 10am to 10pm)
Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Advisory: 6950 9191, or email whda@aware.org.sg (Mon – Fri, 10am to 6pm)
Covid-19: Walk-in service has been temporarily stopped, with exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Services will be conducted remotely. Go here for more information.
Visit their website for more information.
Shan You is a non-profit organisation that offers counselling at affordable rates. The charity has Buddhist roots, but is not religious — they just follow the generic guiding values of compassion, mindfulness, morality and wisdom.
Shan You charges $80 per session for individuals (50 to 60 mins) and $100 per session (65-75 mins for couples and families). If it’s still too expensive for you, you can request for a discount or waiver and it will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Shan You Counselling Centre Clinical Director.
Covid-19: Normal counselling services are temporarily suspended during Circuit Breaker, but essential counselling services will be available via Skype for urgent cases. Go here for more information.
Counselling and Care Centre is a non-government, non-profit, registered charity offering professional counselling services.
Counselling is $180 per hour, which seems steep. However, they have a subsidy system that offers lower rates as long as you earn less than $10,000 monthly. You have to be a Singaporean or PR though.
Also, do note that if you make an after-hours appointment (anytime after Mon to Fri, 8.30am to 6pm), there is a +$10 surcharge.
Covid-19: During Circuit Breaker, counselling services will be held online instead. Make an appointment here.
Visit their website for more information.
WINGS Counselling Centre was founded in 1995 from NCSS, as a pilot project called Ramakrishna Mission Counselling Centre (RMCC). It started off focusing on guidance for troubled youth, but it’s since evolved to offer support for families and other individuals as well.
Counselling is $80 for the first session, and $60 for subsequent follow-up sessions. Full and partial waivers are available at the discretion of the centre.
Covid-19: Counselling services are still available remotely, while face-to-face counselling will only be available on a case-by-case basis. Contact 6383 5745/8203 9317, email admin@wingscounselling.com.sg or fill up the form here.
Visit their website for more information.
Grace Counselling Centre is Singapore’s first Christian counselling centre, formed in 2009. But although a Christ-centred organisation, they do non-religious counselling too.
The fees are slightly steeper than those above: for individuals, it’s $150 for a 1-hour session. For couples seeking relationship and marriage counselling, it’s $250 per 90-min session. Home visits are available at $300 per session. Online counselling sessions cost a standard $130 for a one-hour session.
Covid-19: While face-to-face counselling services are still available, clients are encouraged to hop onto the online Skype counselling services here. Call 6408 9752 or email admin@gracecounsellors.com.
Visit their website for more information.
The Care Corner mainly reaches out to needy, lower-income families, but their wide range of services includes counselling for anyone who needs help.
The mandarin hotline is free, but the face-to-face counselling is chargeable. The rates are not published, but you can call them up to enquire. They are a non-profit social service organisation with 33 centres in Singapore.
Covid-19: The centre is closed during Circuit Breaker, but most services are still available via telephone calls or online (Mon – Fri, 9am – 6pm). Go here for more information.
There is a difference between feeling troubled or stressed and clinical mental illness. Depending on which you are struggling with, counselling may or may not be enough and/or helpful.
Counselling involves talking about your difficulties and working through your problems with a counsellor. It is usually the first step to seeking help. However, if you or a loved one suspect a mental disorder, it may be better to see a psychiatrist instead.
As a medical professional, they would be able to diagnose your condition and prescribe the right medication for it (if needed).
If you did not know, Medisave can be used for psychiatric treatment too. For inpatient treatment, you can use up to $150 per day for daily hospital charges, capped at $5,000 per year.
Under the MediSave500 scheme, you can also use up to $500 per Medisave account for 20 chronic diseases including major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, dementia and anxiety. You’ll have to pay a 15% co-payment though.
For reference, these are the charges at IMH.
Subsidised outpatient fees at IMH (based on minimum subsidy):
First consultation (adult) = $40
Subsequent consultation (adult) = $37
First consultation (child or adolescent) = $45
Subsequent consultation (child or adolescent) = $42
Emergency attendance fee = $120
Subsidised inpatient charges at IMH (based on maximum subsidy):
Daily ward fee: $32 for C ward; $61 for B2 ward
Daily treatment fee: $15 for C ward; $31 for B2 ward
For hospitalisation, you will be given financial counselling on your estimated bill size upon admission. A deposit is typically collected at the same time, even if you use Medisave (unless your Medisave fully covers it).
For IMH, Medisave cannot be used for outpatient fees, tests and hospital stays for less than eight hours.
You will not be denied admission if you cannot cough up the cash. Instead, those with financial difficulties will be referred to their in-house medical social workers.
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Text: Eugenia Liew/MoneySmart, Additional reporting: Elizabeth Liew