Treating Youths: Resources for Concerned Counsellors

Depression is Singapore’s most common mental health issue. A study led by the National University of Singapore found that at least 1 in 3 Singaporean teens report experiencing depressive symptoms. With so many adolescents facing mental health concerns, it is important to keep a lookout that treating professionals are not getting burned out or overwhelmed.

 We’ve highlighted some essential resources that can improve or maintain your skills and knowledge as a counsellor in treating youths. As mental health professionals, it’s important to be well-equipped to ensure the best, holistic care for your clients.

Supervision and Consultation

In Singapore, there are various organisations where you can find experienced practitioners who have worked with youths. One prominent example is the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC). SAC’s website has a search engine where you can type key words of what you’re looking for (e.g., “youths”, “depression”). You can use it to find professionals from established centres who cater towards specific mental health issues or conditions. Another example is the Counselling and Care Centre (CCC), who offers consultation services. CCC has provided consultation for notable agencies, such as the Institute of Mental Health and the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

• SAC Website: https://sacsingapore.org/registry/find-a-counsellor/

• CCC Website: https://counsel.org.sg/service/consultation-for-practitioners/

Workshops and Courses

Attending counselling workshops or courses provides numerous professional growth and development to improve your skills and expertise. Not only can it increase your knowledge in the latest research, theories, and techniques, but it also builds upon your skills and techniques that you can apply in session.

Moreover, attending workshops and courses is a great opportunity to network because it brings together counsellors from various backgrounds and settings. You can collaborate and engage with other professionals in the field, which can be advantageous for future referral, mentorship, supervision, or consultation opportunities. Sharing experiences and insights can also provide emotional support and foster a sense of professional community.

Many counselling centres who provide youth counselling have pages dedicated to workshops, public talks, or educational events on their main websites. Alternatively, SAC’s website has two pages dedicated to such events, which are often hosted by various mental health establishments in Singapore. There are also platforms that list, announce, and promote local events, like Eventbrite. Check out these sources for more information.

• SAC Workshops: https://sacsingapore.org/events-publication/

• SAC Courses: https://sacsingapore.org/career-course-recognition/

• Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.sg/

Readings, Research, and Online Resources

Another great resource is to keep up with literature of what recent research says about effective treatments and intervention strategies. If you are not part of an institution that has access to such literature, Google Scholar is a free online tool that can help you find various publications by mental health researchers. You can filter the search by year, keywords, or publication types (e.g., books, journal articles). Another resource is Therapist Aid, which is another free website where professionals can find videos, worksheets, and interactive tools for their needs. 

• Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com.sg/

• Therapist Aid: https://www.therapistaid.com/