Mental Health & Counselling Services
From social isolation and adjustment struggles to employment and health issues, many migrant workers face complex challenges that often go unspoken. These may lead to a spectrum of mental health challenges such as anxiety, trauma and even suicidal ideation.
Leveraging HealthServe’s medical expertise, our multi-level mental health programme was launched in 2019 and is the first of its kind in Singapore, aimed at supporting the mental and emotional well-being of the migrant worker community.
HealthServe’s Mental Health & Counselling Services team provides a full range of services from Singapore’s first 24-hour crisis helpline for workers to individual counselling and group therapy or crisis debriefs.
Running around the clock, our crisis helpline aims to provide a safe space for migrant workers in distress. Our Crisis Helpline Specialists and volunteers are able to speak in workers’ native languages and are trained to prioritise caller safety and handle crisis de-escalation. Where further intervention is required, our counsellors or case managers are roped in for more comprehensive support.
HealthServe’s trained psychotherapists are fluent in migrant workers’ native languages. By utilising culturally sensitive and evidence-based therapeutic interventions, our counsellors seek to facilitate change and bolster resilience among clients, equipping them with tools to improve their coping.
Since 2021, we have also moved upstream to train more migrant workers in psychological first aid and peer support.
Migrant workers can learn more about the services offered to them here.
2023 Impact Summary
Group trauma debrief & therapy sessions
20
Calls to our crisis helpline
3,300
Counselling sessions
450
Three Pillars of Mental Health Services
Education and Awareness
We offer mass psychoeducation sessions conducted in the native language of migrant workers at their worksites, as well as formal skills workshops for employers, supervisors and managers.
Bridging Communities
To address workers’ mental health issues and provide support in their native languages, we operate a 24-hour crisis helpline +65 3129 5000, where both migrant workers and concerned stakeholders may reach out for assistance anytime.
Caring for the Community
HealthServe’s team of native-speaking qualified counsellors have been supporting referrals from ministries, employers and healthcare facilities. They have been working in collaboration with external and internal parties to provide psycho-emotional support to migrant workers.
Caring Cards
When was the last time you had a thoughtful conversation with someone you cared about?
As a small non-profit organisation that is big on holistic health, we recognise the impact social connection (or the lack thereof) can have on one’s mental wellbeing. That’s why we created Caring Cards to start conversations within our migrant community.
Hear From Our Community
If we visit [private] clinics, the consultation fee is high and there’s a language barrier, they can’t understand me. That’s why I came here. For those people from my hometown with fevers or headaches, I will recommend them to come here.
HealthServe has made me feel more secure about being in a foreign country and reminded me not to be afraid or lonely in case I need medical or emotional support.
I thinking, I no makan but no die, maybe HealthServe come from God to help me.
HealthServe saved my life.
What I’m most grateful to HealthServe for is... showing me a direction to work towards, whenever there is something I don’t understand. And when we don’t receive our rightful compensation, HealthServe mediates for us with the government and our employers.
HealthServe has been really helpful to me, especially with my medical expenses and issues
Everyone here is really friendly and nice, and is always willing to offer a listening ear
