Dear NSFs, I have been following topic threads on SAF
counsellors and psychiatrists. I decided to share my story on my
experience.
If you would like to see a counsellor or psychiatrist, you will
and must need a recommendation/ referral letter from a MO.
The MO would ask you questions such as why you would like to see
a counsellor, so that he can pen a referral letter for you to make
an appointment. It would take about 4 weeks to get an appointment
slot. Getting a counsellor appointment is better than with a SAF
psychiatrist.
If you would like to see a psychiatrist, the MO will and must
need to pen a referral letter too. The SAF psychiatrist would look
through your report sick medical records to determine if he really
need to see you or not. If granted, you will get an appointment
also in about 4 weeks (dependable on the urgency of case) since he
has many cases to follow up. If not, he will refer you back to the
SAF counselling centre as a step-down care to follow-up.
At SAF counselling centre, a counsellor will be assigned to take
care and concern on you. The 1st initial session will be to get to
know more about you and the problems you are facing. A counsellor,
who is an advisor, is there to advise you on how to face and tackle
the problems but not solve all your problems at once. Please do not
ask for PES review, leaves/ offs...etc. The counsellor, facilitates
as a bridge between your supervisor and you. Not many supervisors
are willing to listen since they will thought that you are simply
malingering your way out of NS. That's where a counsellor step in
to readily help. He will monitor your progress till you feel
confidence enough that you can be able to handle the situation/
reality on your own. The advising sessions last usually for half an
hour to an hour. The first few initial sessions might take longer
to understand the situation. The frequency you meet would really
depend on your case. Usually, it is once a month.
The visit to a SAF psychiatrist would be more or less similar to
a counsellor. The big difference is that a psychiatrist would be
able to give you oral medicines to "smoothe your senses", but a
counsellor cannot for advising/ guidance. The psychiatrist is a
medical doctor specialising in psychiatry. Do not expect him to
treat you "nice" like the counsellors did. He usually spent less
time than your counsellors did with you, and the frequency you see
him may be once per quarter (every 3 months or so). He, qualified
with a doctor's licence, has the discretion to grant you excuse
stay-in or whatever he deemed fit and so. He is likely to twist and
turn the way he asks questions so as to weed/ sieve out malingering
kengsters, so please be careful to think before you speak.
REMEMBER, it is not a "buffet" to help youself to get excuses/
PES review.
You will/ must justify why you really need it, and how can it help
you solve problems.
My final advice is,
Prepare what you need to say to your counsellor or
psychiatrist.
The only way to help yourself is your own self, since no one can
help you except you.
Please do not abuse these services if you are depriving
these for others really in need. If you misuse, you
can be charged for abuse/ misuse.