Peer Support Specialist Programme

a) Preparatory Training for Potential Peer Support Specialist
This module provides an introduction to the role of a Peer Support Specialist, and the significance of sharing a lived experience in peer support work. The module consists of 16 hours of classroom training.

b) Certificate in Peer Support
This module equips these individuals with competencies to perform the role of a Peer Support Specialist. The module includes 80 hours of classroom training and 100 hours of practicum at a social service or healthcare agency.

Course is fully sponsored for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, with attendance requirements of 100%* and completion of all assessments.

*Learners who do not meet the 100% attendance requirements would need to provide a valid reason with supporting documents eg Medical Certificate.  In such events, learners should not miss more than 25% of the course.

For more information or to register, please click here.

1) Consultancy Services on Peer Roles Integration

Attention to: Ms Charis Chua
National Council of Social Service
170 Ghim Moh Road #01-02
Singapore 279621

For more information, please contact AMKFSC Community Services at apprenticeship@amkfsc.org.sg, Tel: 6904 9817.

 

3) Peer Support Specialist Funding Scheme

This scheme aims to increase the number of peer support specialists employed by social service agencies and healthcare institutions by providing funding support for new job roles. Agencies who are successful in their application can receive up to a maximum of 24 months of funding support to hire certified peer support specialist (s) for NEW HEADCOUNTS IN NEW ROLES within the agency and/or programmes. The funding is available from 1 April 2021 (FY21) to 30 March 2023 (FY22) with a tiered funding support at 80% in the first year and 60% in the second year. Agencies would also be expected to retain the new headcount for at least 12 months after the scheme ends on 31 March 2023.

For more details on the scheme, please refer to the information deck here.

To apply for the scheme, please download the application form here.

For more information about the scheme, please contact Ms Elizabeth-Jane Poh at NCSS_Mental_Health@ncss.gov.sg, Tel: 6210 2577.

 

4) Employer Support Grant

The Employer Support Grant aims to encourage hiring of persons with mental health conditions by defraying the cost that would be incurred by employers in the course of providing vocational training opportunities and workplace adjustments.

The Grant consists of two schemes:

(a) The Onsite Vocational Training Scheme – Employers are encouraged to offer vocational training opportunities so that persons with mental health conditions can be trained in real work settings; and

(b) The Workplace Adjustment Scheme – Employers can implement workplace adjustments such as training programmes to increase mental health literacy, equip co-workers and supervisors with skills to better support persons with mental health conditions in the workplace, job redesign consultancy services and Employee Assistance Programmes.

Under the On-site Vocational Training Scheme, eligible employers can receive up to S$500 per trainee per month, for up to three (3) months; and under the Workplace Adjustment Scheme, eligible employers can receive up to S$40,000 depending on the no. of workplace adjustments components implemented and the no. of persons with mental health conditions hired.

For more details on the scheme, please refer to the information deck here.

For more information on how to apply, please contact Ms Elizabeth-Jane Poh at NCSS_Mental_Health@ncss.gov.sg, Tel: 6210 2577.

Community integration services provide psycho-rehabilitation activities, early identification and support, training and skills to enable persons in recovery to have opportunity for integration into mainstream activities.


Singapore Association for Mental Health – Insight Centre
The programme provides counselling and support services to both persons in recovery and their family members. The emotional and psychological needs of persons in recovery are met through face-to-face counselling sessions, support group sessions or the telephone helpline. These individuals and their family members are also equipped with necessary skills to better understand and cope with their mental health conditions through workshops and case conferences.
 
Silver Ribbon (Singapore) – Tze Hng Wellness Studio
Silver Ribbon (Singapore) seeks to provide integration support through early identification and outreach. Services include activities to increase awareness of mental health issues and counselling to encourage help-seeking behaviours, which includes referral of individuals to professional treatment by specialists or institutes.
 
Singapore Anglican Community Services - Peer Bridger
A pilot programme that supports persons in recovery to make successful transitions to community living upon discharge from mental health step-down care facilities.  Peer Support Specialists will provide reintegration support throughout clients’ transition.

Psychiatric Day Care Centre
Psychiatric Day Care Services refer to vocational and psychosocial rehabilitation. Persons in recovery are equipped with the skills to do a variety of tasks in a work-simulated environment and activities that include domestic and cleaning activities, social and recreational activities.


Singapore Association for Mental Health - Oasis Day Centre
The programme offers psychosocial rehabilitation for persons in recovery to improve their daily functioning skills so they could integrate back in the community.
 
Bethesda C.A.R.E. Friendship And Mind Enrichment (FAME) Club
The programme engages persons in recovery in a facilitative and nurturing environment to develop functional life skills and social competency.   It also aims to increase social inclusion and reduce relapse and re-admission rates.



Homes & Hostels
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Homes and Hostels provide structured rehabilitation programmes to re-integrate persons in recovery into the society. They equip persons in recovery with community living skills for them to return to their normal work settings and home.


Sunlove Home
The home seeks to provide long-term residential care to persons with intellectual disabilities or mental health issues, who are either destitute or whose caregivers are unavailable or incapable of caring for them. The home also offers rehabilitative services for its clients, such as psychotherapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and medical treatment. These programmes support clients in their re-integration back to their homes and in the community.

Singapore Association for Mental Health - Bukit Gombak Group Homes
The programme provides opportunities for persons in recovery with well-managed psychiatric conditions to experience community living. It equips these individuals with independent living skills through rehabilitation services.

Advice and support services to caregivers through information and referral, counselling, training and support groups. They also conduct outreach activities to raise awareness of caregiving in the community.

 

Caregivers Alliance Limited (CAL)

Caregivers-to-Caregivers Education Programme
The programme provides support and training for caregivers of persons in recovery. It equips caregivers with the knowledge and skills so they can better cope with their caregiving duties.  The programme provides three types of training courses:

• 12-week training course, which covers topics such as the types of mental health issues, caregiving tips and self-care.
• For those who cannot commit to a 12-week training course, they can attend 1-session mental health workshop or modular training courses which span over a few sessions.

Caregivers Support Centre
The centre at IMH serves to facilitate outreach and provides support through counselling or information referral to caregivers of persons in recovery.

Individual Training and Support
The programme aims to meet the needs of the caregivers by providing individual training and support within the community. It equips caregivers with the knowledge and skills so they can better cope with their caregiving duties.

Suicide Intervention and Management provides support for individuals and post-intervention support for families of suicide victims through helpline, home visits, face-to-face counselling and support groups.


Samaritans of Singapore (SOS)
SOS is a suicide prevention centre that provides confidential 24-hour emotional support to people in crisis, contemplating suicide, or affected by suicide. It provides face-to-face specialist counselling and email befriending services for persons affected by suicide. The hotline number is 1800-221-444.

Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS)
SOS also runs LOSS, which is an outreach programme to provide emotional support to family members bereaved by the suicide of a loved one.

Youth mental health services help youths and their families to understand and manage their mental health condition. It supports recovery through sports, arts, adventure-based, and life-skills activities to help them work towards fulfilling their aspirations.


Singapore Association for Mental Health - YouthReach
The progamme supports the recovery of children and youth with emotional and/or psychological issues, or mental health issues, within the community. The programme also extends psychosocial support and life skills training to their families.

Addiction services aim to support persons with addictions and their families. This could range from psychotherapy, addiction therapy, relapse triggers and prevention, and support groups.

WE CARE Community Services - Sober Living Framework
WE CARE Community Services provides a suite of programmes under the Sober Living Framework, such as counselling, group therapy and workshops. It supports youths and adults with any addiction type, including those with dual-diagnosis (e.g. more than one addiction or addiction and mental health issues) in achieving long-term sobriety. WE CARE Community Services also serves their caregivers and loved ones.

For more information, please head to www.wecare.org.sg.

NCSS launched the Beyond the Label campaign in September 2018. It aims to encourage the public to go beyond the label of a mental health diagnosis, and to view and regard persons with mental health conditions for who they are. For more information, please visit the Beyond the Label page.