API Care and Counselling, the community outreach arm of the Asian Pastoral Institute (API), is happy to organise this workshop on increasing participants' sense of competency when supporting people with Schizophrenia (also known as psychosis).

Mental health problems can affect anyone in their lifetime. However, many people feel unsure of how to help and what to say in times of a mental health crisis. Equipping yourself with psychological first aid skills enables you to provide help to someone who may be developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. Your help can make a difference in someone's life because early interventions can reduce severity and chronicity of problems.

According to a mental health study conducted by IMH in 2021, 7.6% of over 1000 participants reported symptoms of insomnia amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder in Singapore. Sleep plays an important part in a person’s sense of wellbeing. Having poor quality sleep or insufficient sleep can lead to increased risk of developing physical health conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease, as well as mental health issues like depression and anxiety. When sleep issues persist, they can cause significant distress and disruption to a person’s life. Conversely, good quality sleep is essential to allow our body and mind to rest and recharge, so that we can be alert and function well in the day. A good night’s sleep helps to energise us and lift our mood. In this workshop, we can learn to develop tools and strategies to support someone with sleep issues and to get a good night’s sleep.

Mental ill health is a condition that all Christians are susceptible to whether young or mature in their faiths. In times of disappointments, loss, and grief, many Christians can suffer periods of mental ill health like depression. In their discouragements and pain, some may question if this struggle was because of their lack of  faith, or other spiritual pitfalls.  This workshop affirms the place of lament in the Christian journey, and also highlights the Christian and psychological resources available for believers. The workshop offers participants a Christian perspective to the science of mental ill-health to help participants better appreciate the physical, psychological and sociocultural factors that contribute to mental wellness.

API Care and Counselling, the community outreach arm of the Asian Pastoral Institute (API), is happy to organise this course to help couples who are contemplating or preparing to get married.

One key role of people helpers is the support of others struggling with stress and anxiety. Understanding how to help can be a challenge as people respond differently to the help they receive. Some may respond coldly or reject any offer of support. To be effective in such situations, people helpers need competencies to elicit information and build rapport. This is achieved when people helpers demonstrate skills in listening, showing interest, and empathetic responding. This workshop will provide basic training in counselling skills to enhance people helpers’ ability to support and build rapport with those they help. Live roleplays and feedback for practice will be a unique value of participating in this workshop.

Family violence or abuse happens to people of all ages, races, religions, and occupational and educational backgrounds. Thirty percent of Singaporeans report experience of such abuse, or that someone close to them has experienced it (The Straits Times, 10 Dec 2019). Family violence has serious physical and mental health consequences for the victim, whether he/she is an adult or a child. Professionals and concerned others often feel ill-equipped to support such families as victims may not acknowledge their violent relationships or dare seek help for themselves. This workshop will draw on relevant case studies to provide participants with more confidence to provide a first response. The legal option of protection orders will also be discussed for families with ongoing family violence.

API Care and Counselling is happy to organise this 2-part series workshop to help participants learn about soul/self care in a post-COVID world