SVA-SACS partnership to promote mental well-being for SVA members

Introduction

As part of the current SVA EXCO’s efforts to improve the mental well-being of the veterinary profession in Singapore, during the above-mentioned event, we introduced our partnership with the Singapore Anglican Community Services (SACS – www.sacs.org.sg) on a program called the Employee Assistance Programme + (EAP+).

EAP+aims to build organizational well-being through enhancing employee emotional resilience. The program lends support to employees to address their emotional needs and help enhance staff and workplace effectiveness and is an initiative that entails the use of preventive and proactive interventions. EAP+ aims to provide timely support to employees with or at risk of having mental health issues via face-to-face counselling, email consultation, a hotline and psychoeducation training and awareness programs. 

Counselling Services Available to Individual SVA Members

As part of this partnership, the following service will be provided to members:

1. General Counselling via hotline: Hotline services will be provided by certified counsellors, registered with the Singapore Association of Counselling. Phone consultation services are available from Mondays through Fridays (9 am to 5 pm) and Saturdays (9 am to 1 pm). 

2. General Counselling via Email: Email consultation support manned by counsellors. Response time is within 24 – 48 hours. Employees should only use this service for non-critical issues. 

3. Face-to-face Counselling Services: Face-to-face consultation service provided by certified counsellors, registered with the Singapore Association of Counselling and psychologists appointed by SACS. Face-to-face consultation sessions will be available by appointment only, at one of our SACS centres from Mondays through Fridays between 9 am to 5 pm and on Saturdays between 9 am to 1 pm. Such sessions will not be conducted in a public area. A typical face-to-face consultation will be between 45 to 75 mins per session. 

Based on the current arrangement with SACS, for SVA members who wish to tap on SACS’ service, there will be a total of 3 complimentary sessions (any combination of the above-mentioned 3 services), thereafter, the services will have to be borne individually. Your confidentiality is of utmost importance and therefore, there will be no personal information provided to SVA during any point of time other than your names to verify that you are an active SVA member. SACS’ contact information is below:

• Hotline (enquires, Mon-Fri, 9am to 5pm): 86088126
• Phone consultation: 86088125
• Email consultation: eap@sacs.org.sg
• Face-to-face Consultation (Mon-Fri, 9am to 5pm & Sat 9am to 1pm): By appointment

FOR EMERGENCY after office hours, please call the Samaritans of Singapore: 1800-221-4444