RECOGNISING PARACOUNSELLORS FOR COMMITMENT IN HELPING OTHERS

When Ms Jasbir Kaur volunteered to become a paracounsellor about 15 years ago, one of her first cases was a Full-Time National Serviceman (NSF) who faced family objections towards his relationship with his girlfriend.

As the issue affected him deeply, he was downcast and unable to focus on his national service (NS). He was not in Ms Kaur's unit so she would often talk long hours on the phone with him.

It was a case that lasted over four years. "Even after he left NS, his issue was not fully resolved. I didn't have the heart to just leave it," said the Defence Executive Officer, who is a Front Desk Executive at the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Personnel Hub (West).

Through patient counselling, Ms Kaur encouraged the NSF to put himself in his mother's shoes and rationalise with her. Ms Kaur also mediated with his mother and spoke with her to help her understand his perspective.

Things worked out for the better: A few years down the road, he married his girlfriend and invited Ms Kaur to the wedding. Ms Kaur, who is also a mother of two, is still in touch with the NSF's mother till today.

For her unwavering support for the community through the years, Ms Kaur was one of three personnel given the SAF Paracounselling Excellence – Distinguished Service Award at the SAF Paracounsellors Seminar and Appreciation Day (PSAD), held at Temasek Club on 10 Mar. This year's PSAD programme included the Paracounselling Excellence Awards Ceremony, as well as keynote speeches targeted at building resilience.

About 80 paracounsellors received awards and certificates of appreciation during the SAF Paracounselling Excellence Awards Ceremony, while two units received the SAF Paracounselling Unit Excellence Award.

Speaking at the appreciation event, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Melvyn Ong emphasised the role of paracounsellors in strengthening the resilience of people in the SAF.

"The performance of our soldiers doesn't just depend on their physical (abilities)…but also on good mental health and well-being. You provide the last-mile support for them. You spend time to attend to distressed soldiers. You look out for warning signs in our soldiers and reach out to those who otherwise might not come forward."

He also thanked the paracounsellors, saying: "It takes passion, dedication, and selflessness to have stepped forward into such a role."

LG Ong added that the SAF has started a Well-Being Campaign as part of continuous efforts to build resilience in its people.

The campaign, titled "Better Me, Better We", began last June and aims to raise awareness of mental health in the workplace while providing more avenues of support.

For fellow Distinguished Service Award recipient 1st Warrant Officer (1WO) Jason Wang, it was a gentle approach that helped him get through to an NSF who had relationship issues and almost attempted suicide.

"(At first) he saw that I was of a higher rank, so he was reserved and didn't want to speak to me," recalled the Alpha Battery Sergeant Major in 3rd Divisional Air Defence Artillery Battalion (3 DA Bn).

1WO Wang applied skills he learnt from the SAF Counselling Centre (SCC), texting the NSF to check on him, and meeting him to discuss his issues.

"I made sure it was not too formal. It took a few sessions to build rapport… (but) eventually he felt comfortable to open up and share about his inner struggles," he said.

The 45-year-old eventually helped the NSF work through his issues with his girlfriend and improve their relationship. "He eventually developed a bright outlook in life, and could move ahead to resolve his issues," said 1WO Wang.

1WO Wang, who has been a paracounsellor since 2019, also leads a small team of paracounsellors to give monthly mental health talks to their battalion. The initiative was started last year by Lieutenant Colonel Paul Cheng, Commanding Officer 3 DA Bn – who is also a paracounsellor.

Said 1WO Wang: "It is not an easy job, but one that is necessary. I would like to encourage more Regulars to be part of our team to care and provide support to our SAF personnel in times of need."