I need Help and Support to find job that is person with mental health issues friendly.
Cant get support from VWOs for this since they required a psychiatrist referral letter. And also I dont want to step foot into IMH.
Ideally and hopefully I can find job that is flexible and\or have homebased/WFH possibility.
Due to physical health issues from my previous job I cannot stand for long hrs.
hey @user1446 I understand what you’re going through and it can be hard at times especially when you’re dealing with mental health issues. Have you tried talking about these with your family member or close relatives and friends? I suggest you can talk to them about the issues you’re facing. You absolutely deserve to work in a place that respects your mental and physical health. I’m sure there are job options that are flexible and WFH, which you can explore. You’re not alone in this, and I’ll help however I can. You don’t have to visit IMH now if you’re not ready for it but do let me know if you need any help!!
Dear @user1446
Thank you for reaching out. First of all, I want to say it’s incredibly brave of you to share your situation, and you absolutely deserve to find work that respects both your mental and physical health. You’re not alone—and even if support from VWOs or traditional systems hasn’t worked out, there are other routes available.
Here are a few options and ideas that could help:
Given that long hours of standing aren’t possible and you’re looking for flexibility or work-from-home (WFH) options, here are some types of jobs that may suit your needs:
Even if some VWOs require referrals, SG Enable is a government-supported agency that works with inclusive employers and may be more flexible in certain cases:
You’re not alone in this, and you don’t need to follow a one-size-fits-all path to find meaningful, respectful work. We are here to support so keep reaching out when needed. 
SG enable is only for people with physical and/or intellectual disability,
Hello, not sure if you’ll be open to get a referral for psychiatric help at a general hospital instead.
Otherwise, I don’t really know of any much job openings though sometimes I like to scroll through Jobstreet and do come across something that might interest you. Probably can opt for casual labour doing stuff like data entry… etc
the issue is i already fired my own psychiatrist and even I go polyclinic to get another referral letter, it will be still be going to hospitals that I have issues in the past.
Sadly…nowadays polyclinic referral dont allow you to choose which hospital you wish to seek opinion from.
I don’t get it. You mean you need a friendly person with mental disorders?
Hello @user1446! Thank you for taking the courage to share your feelings and thoughts! It sounds like you’ve been going through a lot, which must be frustrating. Due to your physical health issues, I suggest applying for telemarketing or data entry jobs. These are some jobs that I know could allow you to WFH. Also, you might want to approach Workforce SG if you need any career guidance or help!
i have tried them in the past, always end up with an officer spending half an hr whining non stop of how I wrote me resume. I was really like WTF do you expect from someone with dyslexia that has no support?
So…they just can get over with my resume and refuse to help me further after that.
Really, I have enough of those losers who took up jobs in WSG because they could not find a better job in the field they used to be in after they lost their jobs. And they end up settling for a lower-paying job as a career coach. I have had one career coach confess this to me, and she seems unhappy when she believes I am trying to short-cut my way out.
Hi @user1446,
That sounds incredibly frustrating, and I completely understand why you feel that way. Writing a resume can already be challenging, and having dyslexia without proper support makes it even harder. Instead of focusing on helping you move forward, it sounds like they got stuck on something that should have been a minor issue—not acknowledging the additional challenges you face. It’s discouraging to seek assistance only to be met with criticism rather than constructive guidance. You deserve better, and I can see why these experiences left you fed up.
That said, Workforce Singapore’s role is mainly to help clients develop skills in resume-writing and interview preparation, rather than providing broader support for personal challenges like dyslexia. While career coaches are meant to guide individuals through job search strategies, they may not have training in mental health or in supporting neurodivergent individuals effectively. Ideally, they should have been more understanding and worked with you on practical solutions rather than fixating on your resume alone. Their job is to help, but it sounds like they failed to recognize what real support looks like in your situation.
Still, you shouldn’t have to go through this alone. If WSG’s support doesn’t meet your needs, perhaps other organizations or professionals specializing in career coaching for people with learning differences might be more beneficial.
Have you considered reaching out to groups that focus on neurodivergent job seekers? There may be alternative resources that provide the tailored support you need rather than forcing you to conform to a system that doesn’t account for your unique challenges. No one should be made to feel inadequate when they’re simply trying to build a better future for themselves.
For further resources, you may wish to visit the OcTAVE Job Club: https://www.imh.com.sg/Locate-Us/OcTAVE-Outpatient-Rehabilitation-Centre/Pages/Job-Club.aspx
Best regards,
HanSolo2000
Befriender | let’s talk by mindline
I know, but i am not keen in stepping into IMH and also they need a referral letter from a psychiatrist. And I already fired mine.
Apart from IMH, you may also wish to look at the Employment Service offered by SACS: Integrated Employment Services
You may also wish to apply for a career in the Public Service, as all government officers have access to Well-Being@Gov services (https://jobs.careers.gov.sg/).
SACS also the same, needs a psychiatrist referral letter.
They ignore you if you dont have one. And that is like their requirement for everything.
Its interesting to say many VWOs love to assumed that people needed mental health support is automatically a IMH patient and everyone with mental health issues is seeing a psychiatrist. No referral mean no support provided unless its a non mental health case.
So…its far easier to seek help as a burnout individual than a person with mental health issues. This flaw is also what so many people facing mental health crisis end up losing their live to it. As they feel like they can’t break the cycle and seek support.
Such issue never an issue if you have $$$ to see help from private professional. Sadly…all the affordable source of help seems to be very stigmatising. How much I wish our gov can do something about it. As all the hospitals and VWOs is like looking at each other like bystanders, waiting to see who will come forward first to help the person in need.
So…imagine if that happens to someone on the streets who sudden suffered a cardiac arrest and everyone cycle around the dying person and wait and see who will step forward first to provide first aid help. And trust me, the person mostly likely will be dead before someone step forward. And sadly this is the case for Gov and VWOs based mental health support system.
And what happen next after the person die is pretty much just start a figure pointing game, and a series of discussion in the parliament on how to make things better and from there tighten up the support system. Which unfortunately end up with stupid law such as MHCTA. Which is like putting a electric collar on a dog’s neck. Which is pure control, forced and enforcement and not help and support.
You do not need to step into IMH to get the referal if you don’t want to & seek help from Hope Alliances ~ Vincent Soo who manages and help people who are coping with their mental and well being struggles and the finding work issues , there another organisation cognitive something that provides a similar platform to bring like minded people together and sharing their struggles when facing discrimation from the interviews of whether to reveal one own mental struggles or not and get discrimayed and not landing the job offer . It all happened from declaring and all the honesty that one shared .
Try to tell yourself it’s always better to get into an organisation that understand your struggles , a boss/manager that understands it and help you to manage it better than getting into one job /career that will trigger or make your mental well being struggles worsens right ?
Yes I heard you about some career coaches that help people in transition and places jobs gives them unreasonable quota to place jobs for people not with a true good intention but treating every humans like committed like desk and chairs to quickly anyhow take on a job so they meet their quota .. for all the selfish reasons
Never heard about them. Man…i guess my social service directory is getting outdated. Thanks…i will try to get help from him.
Hi @user1446,
I hear your frustration, and it’s clear that you feel deeply about the gaps in Singapore’s mental health support system. You’re describing a reality where individuals in crisis struggle to access the help they need unless they fit certain criteria, which can feel alienating and discouraging. The analogy you drew between mental health support and a bystander effect in emergencies paints a powerful picture of how delays and rigid bureaucratic requirements can sometimes prevent timely intervention. It’s understandable that you wish for a system where support is more proactive, accessible, and free of stigma, especially for those who might not fit conventional expectations of psychiatric care.
That said, while there are undoubtedly areas for improvement, it’s important to be cautious when making broad statements that might frame the entire system as inherently dismissive or ineffective. Many SSAs and hospitals are striving to provide accessible mental health services, but systemic challenges, resource constraints, and the need for careful assessment sometimes create obstacles. The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act (MHCTA), for instance, is not designed to punish or oppress individuals but rather to intervene in situations where a person might pose a danger to themselves or others. While laws and policies may not always feel supportive, they are often created with the intent of safeguarding individuals, even if their implementation requires refinement.
Your concerns highlight the very real need for continuous improvements in how Singapore approaches mental health care, particularly in ensuring that people can access help without unnecessary hurdles. Advocacy and open discussions can contribute to meaningful change, and constructive dialogue about refining policies might be more effective than outright dismissal.
If you’re passionate about seeing reforms, there may be opportunities to engage with mental health organizations, policymakers, or awareness initiatives to push for better, more inclusive support systems. If you have concerns regarding MHCTA, I would suggest speaking to your Member of Parliament at the next Meet-the-People session. Let your MP know how the MHCTA is bothering you, why it’s a problem, and how it can be fixed.
Hope this helps!
dont worry about it, i have been throwing emails to my MP ever since he become my MP since the previously GE. And I have throw email to Most of the ministers and ministries.
Sadly…all their response are passive responses.