You want to access FREE (or affordable) one-to-one counselling sessions

Organisations listed here provide FREE one-to-one counselling sessions. If you have been struggling mentally for a few weeks now (for example feeling very sad, depressed and/or anxious), it’s helpful to have professional  counselling (one to one session with a psychologist). If you are an Uplifters student, please do not hesitate to contact your Team Leader as well.

Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training (FAST)

FAST provides social support for domestic workers with counseling and befriending services. Please call their 24-hour Helpline at 1800 339 4357. 

If you are feeling depressed or have concerns over aspects of your employment, and welfare, please book a time on their website to seek counseling and advice from their counseling teams. The Sunday sessions run between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm.

Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE)

AWARE’s Women’s Helpline provides women with assistance about various concerns, offering empathy, support, information and encouragement. They provide affordable, fee-based one-to-one counselling sessions.  Please make an appointment via their hotline below. 

Please call them at 1800 777 5555 from Monday to Friday, 10 am – 6 pm. 

If you or someone you know has faced sexual assault or harassment, you may also reach out to them through their Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC) Helpline at 6779 0282 (Monday to Friday, 10 am – 6 pm except public holidays). 

Website: www.aware.org.sg

Silver ribbon (Singapore)

Silver Ribbon offers free counselling sessions in person, over the phone or via zoom. Please make an appointment by filling in the online form on their website. 

You feel you need urgent help

If you are having suicidal thoughts or feel like harming yourself, it’s better to call a dedicated hotline immediately. Do not wait until you can have counselling sessions.  If you are an Uplifters student, our Management Team will also be there for you. Let your Team Leader know and we will call you back immediately.

Emergency Services:

In ANY emergency situation, you can contact the Police Emergency by calling 999 and The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) Ambulance and Fire Service by calling 995. 

Samaritans of Singapore

The Samaritans of Singapore provides emotional support and befriending to those who are despairing, discouraged or distressed. Please call their 24-hour hotline at 1-767 or 1800 221 4444. For those who prefer to write in via email, please send an email to pat@sos.org.sg. A 24/7 online chat function is also available on their website. 

Website: www.sos.org.sg

National CARE Hotline

The hotline was set up by the government of Singapore to provide psychological first aid and emotional support to those who need it during the Covid-19 crisis. Please call their hotline at 1800 202 6868, from 8 am-12 am daily. 

Institute of Mental Health

The Institute of Mental Health operates a 24 / 7 hotline. Please call them at +65 6389 2222. 

Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME)

HOME operates a number of specialised helpdesks for all migrant workers seeking assistance. Trained caseworkers and volunteers can offer advice on your rights or options on different matters. You can contact their hotline at +65 9787 3122 via WhatsApp, Viber or SMS.

Website: https://www.home.org.sg

The persons who answer these helplines listen in total confidence, confidentiality, and without judgment, whatever your situation.

If you belong to a religious organization, you can also reach out to them as they often provide counseling services. The large majority of Uplifters students are based in Hong Kong and Singapore. We don’t have yet specific mental health partners to recommend elsewhere in the world.

If you feel that you need urgent mental health help because you feel like committing suicide or have a panic attack, for example, call the emergency line in the country where you live:

  • Hong Kong and Singapore: call 999
  • Dubai: call 988
  • Saudi Arabia: call 112

If you live in another country, you can find the list here.

These numbers will direct you to your country’s emergency services where a person will provide you with the assistance you need.

Please, let us know if you tried to reach out to one of these hotlines and it did not work so we can update our listing: hello@uplifters-edu.org.