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A study on Singapore Armed Forces personnels' attitudes toward help-seeking and basic counselling skills training
Author
Chia, Gek Shan Cheryl
Supervisor
D'Rozario, Vilma
Abstract
In the last two decades, military forces around the world, including the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) have been increasingly involved in military deployments (Keller, 2005). The stress incurred from these operations adds onto other non-deployment and non-military related everyday stressors of life (Hoge, Lesikar & Guevara, 2002). These stressors might have an adverse impact on job performance, careers, personal and family lives (Greenberg, 2007; Hourani, 2006; Rowan, 2006). Bartone (2006) commented that leaders or superiors can influence the resilience of their subordinates, especially in difficult situations such as military deployment.
However, a general literature review on help-seeking behaviour shows that people tend to stigmatise help-seeking (Johnstone, 2001; Overton and Medina, 2008). Also, being in the military and in an Asian context, might further reinforce that stigma (O'Conner, 2004; Rowan, 2006; Yan, Wang, Cheng, Miao, Zhang, Yuan, An & Pan, 2008 ). Leaders' attitudes toward help-seeking and providing counselling can influence the efforts in their role as helpers on how to demonstrate this concern when their subordinates are faced with problems. Duys and Hedstrom (2000) highlighted that early basic skills training could be used to challenge stigmatising beliefs. The SAF Counselling Centre (SCC) conducts workshops on basic counselling skills with the aim of equipping participants with skills in identifying servicemen with problems and basic intervention skills. However, the training is not pervasive as not all MINDEF and SAF superiors are trained or sign up for the workshops.
This pioneer exploratory study was conducted as there was no previous research done to survey the attitudes toward counselling with counselling training on any foreign or local military populations. The aim of this research was threefold: (1) to survey the attitudes of MINDEF and SAF superiors toward help seeking. Demographic factors such as gender, race and age were analysed to see if there were differences in attitudes amongst them (2) to explore their general views toward their counselling role as a superior (3) to obtain their views toward basic counselling skills training after attending one of SCC's basic counselling skills training workshops.
The study consisted of both quantitative and qualitative measures using a self administered questionnaire. It was given at the end of a two day Practice in Counselling Skills workshop run by SCC. The sample (n = 40) consisted of MINDEF and SAF employees who signed up for the course. Their attitudes toward help seeking were measured using the “Inventory of Attitudes toward Seeking Mental Health Services (IASMHS)” (Mackenzie, Knox, Gekokski & Macaulay, 2004) where higher scores indicate endorsement toward help seeking. Their views toward the course and their counselling role were also sought via a mix of closed and open ended questions.
The results showed that the sample appeared to have somewhat positive attitudes toward help seeking and training in counselling skills. There were no significant differences in the attitudes between the different genders, races and ages. They found the course effective in providing them awareness and some basic knowledge of their counselling role and equipping them with basic interviewing skills. They generally had favourable responses toward the importance of counselling in the SAF and their role as superiors to support it. They supported the need to enhance the current system for more leaders and superiors to be trained in basic counselling skills and proposed that it be made compulsory.
However, a general literature review on help-seeking behaviour shows that people tend to stigmatise help-seeking (Johnstone, 2001; Overton and Medina, 2008). Also, being in the military and in an Asian context, might further reinforce that stigma (O'Conner, 2004; Rowan, 2006; Yan, Wang, Cheng, Miao, Zhang, Yuan, An & Pan, 2008 ). Leaders' attitudes toward help-seeking and providing counselling can influence the efforts in their role as helpers on how to demonstrate this concern when their subordinates are faced with problems. Duys and Hedstrom (2000) highlighted that early basic skills training could be used to challenge stigmatising beliefs. The SAF Counselling Centre (SCC) conducts workshops on basic counselling skills with the aim of equipping participants with skills in identifying servicemen with problems and basic intervention skills. However, the training is not pervasive as not all MINDEF and SAF superiors are trained or sign up for the workshops.
This pioneer exploratory study was conducted as there was no previous research done to survey the attitudes toward counselling with counselling training on any foreign or local military populations. The aim of this research was threefold: (1) to survey the attitudes of MINDEF and SAF superiors toward help seeking. Demographic factors such as gender, race and age were analysed to see if there were differences in attitudes amongst them (2) to explore their general views toward their counselling role as a superior (3) to obtain their views toward basic counselling skills training after attending one of SCC's basic counselling skills training workshops.
The study consisted of both quantitative and qualitative measures using a self administered questionnaire. It was given at the end of a two day Practice in Counselling Skills workshop run by SCC. The sample (n = 40) consisted of MINDEF and SAF employees who signed up for the course. Their attitudes toward help seeking were measured using the “Inventory of Attitudes toward Seeking Mental Health Services (IASMHS)” (Mackenzie, Knox, Gekokski & Macaulay, 2004) where higher scores indicate endorsement toward help seeking. Their views toward the course and their counselling role were also sought via a mix of closed and open ended questions.
The results showed that the sample appeared to have somewhat positive attitudes toward help seeking and training in counselling skills. There were no significant differences in the attitudes between the different genders, races and ages. They found the course effective in providing them awareness and some basic knowledge of their counselling role and equipping them with basic interviewing skills. They generally had favourable responses toward the importance of counselling in the SAF and their role as superiors to support it. They supported the need to enhance the current system for more leaders and superiors to be trained in basic counselling skills and proposed that it be made compulsory.
Date Issued
2011
Call Number
HM1141 Chi
Date Submitted
2011