Anyone who has had to take care of an elderly or a loved one who is ill will know that the caregiver role can be challenging. Doing so as a career, over long hours each day, can take its toll, both physically and mentally.
Proactively helping union members cope with the stresses and strains of demanding careers in healthcare has seen the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union (HSEU) work together with the Association of Psychotherapists and Counsellors (Singapore) or APACS, an NTUC U Associate, on various initiatives.
Since 2016, regular lunchtime talks and one-to-one counselling sessions for members in need have helped bridge an underserved gap in the sector: looking after the mental well-being of healthcare workers.
Working More Closely
To this end, the parties announced the HSEU-APACS Alliance on 26 September 2017 at the union’s office at National University Hospital.
The commitment will see both work together to create greater awareness of mental wellness, dispel stigmas as well as boost the recognition of professionals such as counsellors and psychotherapists.
“More needs to be done for healthcare workers and the union decided to step in to address concerns about mental wellness. With the huge network that we have, we can potentially create good advocacy and promote the recognition and growth of these professionals,” said HSEU President K. Thanaletchimi.
APACS President Abigail Lee said: “The collaboration between HSEU and APACS, through efforts such as lunchtime talks, allows us to jointly create an awareness and understanding of the importance of mental and emotional well-being to the individuals within the healthcare sector.”
