Social Dimension Singapore

Existential Psychology and Social Work Practice: Exploring a Possible Contribution

Zheng Liren, RSW

  

    Social Work practice has always been unique in its position amongst the various helping and people professions. Social Work is committed to the fulfillment of social justice, human rights and on a deeper level, the alleviation of human suffering. Social Workers seek to intervene at different levels of society in order to help individuals fulfill their potential and prevent dysfunction. At the heart of this commitment is a radical belief in the individual dignity and worth of every human being (IFSW, 2004). These ideas have their roots in humanistic ideals, arising from the belief that the actualization and transcendence of the self is the highest achievement in human existence (ibid, 2004).

    Social workers in Singapore are commonly trained in systemic, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural and medical models of understanding human experience. These models shape the way in which we frame our thinking about cases, our interventions and our ideas of how success with a case is defined. For many of us, our commitment to our clients as human beings is far deeper than our commitment to any particular intervention modality. It is not uncommon to hear social workers say that they would employ ‘whatever it takes’ with their clients, not out of professional incompetence, but out of a deep commitment to client well-being and development. As I speak with friends and fellow colleagues in the field, I cannot help but think that this is one of our profession’s greatest strengths: the unwavering commitment to our clients’ wellbeing, growth and potential.

State Perspectives on Poverty & Welfare in Singapore: The Case for Low Income Families With Long Term Medical Conditions

By: Arvinder Kaur

    “Self-reliance” and “family as the first line of defense” might sound like foreign terms to some but they tug deeply at the hearts of all Singaporeans. These ideologies have been well internalized by Singaporeans, rich and poor alike, reflecting the success of the government in nurturing an ideological consensus amongst its citizens. However, when such ideologies move beyond political rhetoric to actively shape the states’ perspective on poverty and welfare, it spells significant consequences for social groups who are unable to live up to the dominant discourse of self-reliance.

    One such social group would be low-income families with member(s) suffering from long-term medial conditions. In the recent years we have often heard the saying “If you’re sick in Singapore, you better be rich, If you’re poor, you better not fall sick”. It is one thing to hear and utter statements such as these; it is quite another thing altogether to be living and experiencing poverty and sickness in Singapore. Over a period of 4 months, I had the opportunity to be connected to 12 such families through two welfare organizations; the Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centres & the Singapore Sikh Welfare Council. In an attempt to study the impact of the current welfare policies on low-income families with long-term medical conditions, I had requested the organizations to link me up to families with:

(a) At least one member in the family suffering from a chronic disease, immobility or any other medical conditions

(b) The family member is currently on or has applied for Medifund or any other medical or non-medical assistance scheme

(c) Combined Household Income of less than $1,500