Supporting the mental health of students in Singapore with counselling and care is important to the International French School (Singapore) (IFS). The school provides individualised support in counselling for youth within a supportive environment at the IFS Counselling Centre.
Counselling and care is done in collaboration with teachers, counsellors, educational staff and parents. The school says it nurtures the holistic growth of its students in developing essential life skills, nurturing resilience and promoting a forward-thinking mindset.
Since the beginning of the year, the counselling team has conducted campaigns to raise awareness about mental health and anti-bullying. They’ve also organised workshops for parents. Labelled “Adjusting to a New School Environment”, these sessions are held both in-person and online. They offer tips and advice to help parents of new secondary students guide their children through this transition.
Nurturing students with counselling and care
The counselling team at IFS shares how the following counselling and care services support student wellbeing:
- Individualised counselling for youth support. Available for both students and staff, tailored counselling for youths addresses unique needs. Personalised guidance fosters understanding and helps individuals to effectively manage specific challenges.
- Skill development. The focus is on areas such as emotional regulation, stress and anxiety management, and building resilience. Students are equipped with problem-solving, life and interpersonal skills. This strengthens their ability to cope with stress and emotional challenges. These tools foster greater resilience and adaptability in the mental health of students in Singapore.
- Motivational talks for students, staff and parents. These inspire goal-setting and encourage a forward-thinking mindset. According to the school, the talks promote mental toughness, alleviate mental health barriers and support both academic and personal development.
- Collaborative counselling and care support systems. This includes classroom interventions aligned with Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), which provide behavioural support to teachers and staff. Such initiatives strengthen a holistic support network for the mental health of students in Singapore.
- Workshops and educational programmes for students, staff and parents. The activities and initiatives focus on the mental health of students in Singapore while fostering a positive school culture.
About the IFS Counsellors
Piramala has been working with students for over 20 years. Her many qualifications include a Masters in Professional Counselling, certified Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths, and certified Cognitive Behaviour Therapist. Fostering personal growth, resilience and wellbeing is how she approaches counselling for youth and support for teenagers. This is by utilising evidence-based techniques and a holistic perspective using the Positive Youth Development framework for children and adolescents.
Natasha holds a Masters in Psychology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling, Guidance and Family Therapy. She has worked with students of different ages and provided support for teenagers for five years. She firmly believes in empowering students to take ownership of their own personal and academic goals. Natasha goes by the quote: “Focus on helping the child and not on fixing them.”
International French School is at 3000 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3.
6805 0000 | welcome@ifs.edu.sg | ifs.edu.sg
Did you know that IFS became the first international school in Singapore to receive the Data Protection Trustmark (DPTM) certification? There’s also an exciting campus expansion for IFS! To make the most of living in Singapore, read our latest City Guide here for free!
