The majority of children and adolescents do not suffer from mental illness. However, when a student has been identified, the school counsellor with consultation from the school’s case management team will look into managing the care of the student. When necessary, guidance specialists and educational psychologists from the Ministry of Education will render additional support.
In 2010, the voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs), in collaboration with National Council of Social Service (NCSS), have also been invited to join this network to provide community and clinical support to at-risk children.
Students/children with severe emotional and behavioural problems may need more help. The REACH team collaborates with school counsellors/VWOs to provide suitable school-based interventions to help these students. Such school/family service centre-based interventions often provide the requisite, timely help that these students/children need.
Further specialised assessment or treatment may be necessary for more severe cases. The student/child will be referred to the Child Guidance Clinic after assessment by the REACH team for further psychiatric evaluation and intervention. These interventions may include medications, psychotherapy, group or family work and further assessments*.
* Standard clinic charges apply.
Referral Process
School counsellors and VWOs are to contact students’/children's parents to obtain their consent before the REACH assessment. . The assessments are typically conducted in the schools/family service centres. This offers greater convenience for both schools/family service centres and parents.
Appointments are made only through the school counsellors/VWOs only
In addition, schools/VWOs can refer students/children suspected with ADHD, without major emotional and learning difficulties, to our listed GPs for assessment.
