Support Groups in Singapore

I just found out that in Singapore we do have Support Groups though not specifically for Bipolar Disorder. Usually the Support Groups cater to a variety of mood disorders which involves depression. These mood disorders can be major depression, bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), anxiety disorders, Schizophrenia, etc etc.

The following 2 places provide Support Groups or Group Therapy for mood disorders:

1) Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH)

Peer Support Groups (PSG)

The Peer Support Groups (PSG) are self-help groups for people who are recovering or have recovered from mental health problems to get together as a group for information and sharing of experiences, to obtain social and emotional support and to learn from one another.

How is the PSG run?

SAMH runs two types of Recovery Support Groups:

1. Sunshinepath - A Support Group for Depression (include Bipolar Disorder) and Anxiety
2. Mental Health Interactive Group for Schizophrenia
   
   For Sunshinepath Support Group for Depression & Anxiety, members will meet on the first Monday of every month from 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.

For Mental Health Interactive Group for Schizophrenia, members will meet fortnightly on the second and fourth Fridays of every month from 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.

(Both groups use English as the main language medium but translation by peer volunteers are provided for members who are Mandarin speaking)

Who will conduct the PSG sessions?
The Peer Support Groups are run by trained volunteers who are recovered sufferers with a mental health counsellor or social worker as the moderator.

Where will the PSG be run?
The Peer Support Groups are held at
Central Singapore Club 3R
Blk 69 Toa Payoh Lorong 4
#01-365 Singapore 310069

Who can join?
Persons who have suffered from:

• Schizophrenia
• Depression
• Bipolar Disorder
• Anxiety Disorders
and are currently in stable condition and have accepted the illness.

Are There Any Requirements from PSG members?
As the PSG is a support group for people going through the challenges of mental health problems, we strive to make the support group a safe and therapeutic avenue for members to be able to relate their experiences. Therefore all members are expected to maintain confidentiality at all times.

Are there any fees involved?
You only need to pay a one time registration fee of $10 to join the group.

How do I join the PSG?
To register for PSG, please click here

For more information on Peer Support Groups, please contact between Monday – Friday (except holidays)

• Social Worker, Support Groups, Singapore Association for Mental Health Blk 69 Toa Payoh Lorong 4 #01-365, Singapore 310069
• Fax No: 62526834
• Email:supportsvcs@samhealth.org.sg

  For further enquiry, please call 1800 2837019 (09.00am-1.00pm, 2.00-6.00pm) or email to the above email address.

2) Institute of Mental Health (IMH) runs Group Therapy besides individual and family therapy.

Institute of Mental Health (IMH)
Buangkok Green Medical Park
10 Buangkok View, Singapore 539747
Tel : 6389 2000
Fax : 6385 1050
Quality Service (Toll-Free): 1800-3864541
Emergency Help Line (24 Hours): (65) 6389-2222
Outpatient Appointment (65) 6389-2200
Email: imh_appt@imh.com.sg
Admission Enquiries: (65) 6389-2003/4
Billing Enquiries: (65) 6389-2016/7/8

Thank God for provision of Freelance Jobs

Thank God for His faithfulness in providing 2 Freelance Jobs for me this month.

Earlier this month, a good friend of mine, who is also my sister-in-Christ in my church, offered to give me some freelance job assignment. She is herself also a freelancer. Thank God that by His providence, she has been having increasing projects this month and felt the need to get some help. She thought of me and has kindly asked me to help her. There will not be a fixed income but rather she will pay me per project. Thank God for His provision through her.

Just yesterday, another 2 friends of mine whom I did some freelance work for previously, also approached me to do a short project for them. I am doing some transcribing work for them. They have send me some taped messages, and I am listening to these messages and transcribing them by typing them out in MicroSoft Word document. Thank God that I am able to work from home at my own pace! Praise God for His faithfulness in providing another means to earn a living.

There is still a terrible stigma associated with mental illnesses in Singapore. Finding a fulltime job has been difficult for me. I am thankful for my formal diagnosis of proneness to bipolar disorder last year as it enables me to understand my confusing past, and to find helps to manage my condition so that I am more functional and useful for the Lord and society. But with the formal diagnosis also came the difficulties to look for a job. I am required to declare my health status in the Job Application forms when I go for Job interviews. So far my experiences have been, whenever I declare my health status, I no longer hear from these employers.

Thank God that He is able to provide for our every need. Despite the difficulties of finding a job, the Lord has provided through freelance job assignments. For these freelance work, I am not required to declare my health condition. Thank God that I am able to continue to use my skills to serve Him in these freelance jobs.

It is a great encouragement to me that despite my condition, I can still be useful for the Lord and can contribute towards the ministry in the church as well as work in the society. I just pray that the Lord will enable me to glorify Him wherever He places me, and He will grant me much wisdom, strength and joy to serve Him at work. I do need to remember to pace myself slowly and take breaks in between my work.





I took this picture at East Coast Beach, Singapore





"I have been young and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Psalm 37:25

To see more of the photos I have taken, visit my "Around Singapore" blog where I share some photos and some places of interest in Singapore :-)