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Move prompted by the need to have healthy workforce, both agencies sayTWO government agencies are offering counselling services to their workers, a move that comes amid people's increasingly high expectations of public servants.self storageThe National Environment Agency (NEA) will set up a hotline next month for its 3,800 employees to consult a professional counsellor about work and personal problems.The Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board's counselling hotline for its 1,800 staff was launched earlier this month.Both agencies told The Straits Times their decision was prompted by the need to have a healthy workforce with an active interest in their jobs."NEA believes a healthy and engaged workforce will help us better achieve our organisational objectives of improving and sustaining a clean and green environment in Singapore," said its spokesman.Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, however, had noted last month that people's demands are rising, particularly upon front- line officers whom they expect to respond quickly and adequately.The move by the two agencies is the latest in a long line of similar measures taken by various government agencies.Uniformed services like the Singapore Armed Forces and Police had introduced counselling hotlines in the 1980s and 1990s respectively, and bolstered them with in-house counselling units.The Land Transport Authority set up its hotline in 2004, the PUB - the national water agency - in 2007 and the Housing Board in 2008.The NEA said a trial effort from November last year to April this year got fewer than 20 calls but it was enough to convince it to have a permanent hotline.It did not give details on the calls made but at the PUB, staff have sought help on health issues, managing stress, family relationships, marriage as well as work-life balance.These issues, which reflect the mental health of 迷你倉orkers, also dominated the findings of a survey on issues employees raise during counselling and coaching.Work stress is the main problem, ahead of managing people or advancing their career.Outside of work, parenting topped the list of their concerns.The survey, done last year by people management consulting firm Human Dynamic, covered 55 Singapore organisations that use its services, including five government agencies.Its director Laura Lee said many of those seeking help are in their 30s, an age when they are climbing the career ladder as well as plunging into marriage and starting a family.Raffles Counselling Centre psychiatrist Lim Yun Chin believes the anonymity of a hotline gives people confidence to open up."Hopefully the confidence developed towards the counsellor at the other end could encourage the client to then meet the counsellor face to face," Dr Lim said.Using external professionals also assures staff of privacy and confidentiality, he added.Counsellors at Changi General Hospital noted that hotlines encourage help-seeking behaviour, a characteristic of resilient people.It matches the Health Promotion Board's goal to change the common view of mental health as an illness to one of building resilience and self-esteem. Hence, it gives employers a $5,000 grant for projects on mental health.Human resource veteran and former MP Ho Geok Choo hopes more government agencies will offer such counselling services.Noting the heightened work pressure, she said: "Singapore is getting more transparent and open. Public servants are expected to give instantaneous response in e-mail, phone calls and over the counter. They've to be more knowledgeable and competent."Such expectations take a toll on our public servants, so the hotline is a good channel to help them manage their stress and emotions better."chinlian@sph.com.sgmini storage