Assessment & Shared Care Team (ASCAT)

The National University Hospital's Assessment and Shared Care Team (ASCAT NUH) is an adult community psychiatric team that aims to bridge mental health care between the community and the hospital.

ASCAT NUH comprises of a multi-disciplinary team to provide assessment, treatment, and holistic care for clients with moderate to severe mental health conditions. In addition to supporting clients and caregivers, the team also builds capability of community mental health providers through training and clinical leadership.

The Assessment & Shared Care Team is one of the programmes under the Community Mental Health Masterplan developed by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), together with the Ministry of Health (MOH). The programme enables persons living with mental health issues to seek early treatment and community support nearer to their homes.

ASCAT NUH works closely with its community partners, like the COMITs, who provide case management, counselling, home visit and support for its caregivers. The team provides workshops, skills training, talks and joint case discussions to build up the capabilities of partners in managing mental health conditions in the community.

• Triage and early access for consultation at Specialist Outpatient Clinics at the National University Hospital
• 6 to 12 months of care for patients referred to the Outpatient Clinic
• Coordinated care with the Primary Care Network (General Practitioners, Polyclinics and Family Medicine Clinics) and social service agencies for continuity of care
• Case management and holistic care and support
• Psychological interventions, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

ASCAT NUH is a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals comprising of Psychiatrists, Case Managers and Psychologists.

• A team of doctors led by Psychiatrists, diagnoses and formulates the psychiatric and medical treatment plan, conducts regular reviews of the patient and modifies the treatment plan accordingly.
• Case Managers bridge the care between hospital and the community via a coordinated process of assessments, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of outcomes.
• Psychologists provide non-pharmacological therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

ASCAT NUH also partners the NUH's nursing team (Advanced Practice Nurses, Nurse Clinicians and Nurse Educators) to collaborate on clinical, training and research initiatives.

Western region of Singapore

Any patient between 18-65 years old, who is not under the care of any Psychiatrist or Psychologist

• General practitioners / family physicians
• Counsellors and Case Workers from social service agencies such as COMITs and FSCs.

Monday to Friday (excluding Public Holidays): 8.30am to 5.00pm

There are many resources available to individuals needing professional help for mental health conditions. Here are some places that the public may approach, depending on the severity of symptoms:

• Family Service Centres (FSCs) for mild symptoms
• Polyclinics for mild and moderate symptoms
• General Practitioner (GP) clinics for mild and moderate symptoms
• Hospitals for moderate and severe symptoms

ASCAT NUH works closely with mental health resource groups located mainly in the western region of Singapore. These Social Service Agencies are based in the community and would be able to help you or your families cope with personal, social and emotional challenges in your lives:

• Family Service Centres (FSCs)
  • Care Corner FSC (Queenstown)
  • Fei Yue Community Services
  • Foundation of Rotary Clubs Singapore (FRCS) FSC
  • PPIS FSC (West)
  • Thye Hua Kwan FSC @ Bukit Panjang
  • Thye Hua Kwan FSC @ Jurong
  • TRANS FSC (Bukit Timah)
  • Viriya Community Services (Whispering Hearts FSC)

• Community Intervention Teams (COMITs)
  • Club HEAL (Hope, Empowerment, Acceptance & Love)
  • Fei Yue COMIT
  • Singapore Anglican Community Services (SACS) Anglican Care Centre (Bukit Batok)
  • Singapore Association for Mental Health, SAMH Group Home
  • Singapore Association for Mental Health, SAMH Mindset Learning Hub
  • Singapore Association for Mental Health, SAMH Mobile Support Team
  • Singapore Association for Mental Health, SAMH Youth Reach
  • St Luke's Hospital Community Intervention Team (SLH COMIT)

• Community Resource, Engagement and Support Teams (CRESTs)
  • Viriya Community Services (CREST@Viriya)

• Other Social Service Agencies and Schools
  • Caregiving Welfare Association (CWA)
  • Employment and Employability Institute (e2i)
  • SAGE Counselling Centre
  • Sexual Assault Care Centre of (SACC) AWARE
  • Silver Ribbon Singapore
  • Singapore Polytechnic Counselling Services
  • Social Service Office (SSO) @ Choa Chu Kang, Bukit Batok and Bukit Panjang
  • Social Service Office (SSO) @ Clementi, Jurong East and Queenstown
    • To find out more about ComCare, please click here
    • To locate your nearest SSO, please click here
  • Yale-NUS Counselling Centre

Please approach any of the GP clinics or Polyclinics in your area of residence should you require medical help.

If you are feeling suicidal and need to talk to someone, please call the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) hotline at 1800-221-4444 (24 hours).

If you are in need of help or social assistance, please call the ComCare hotline at 1800-222-0000 (Mon - Sun, 7am - 12 midnight).

We have put together some resources to help you manage your mental health and well-being. Click the link(s) below to find out more about:

• Sleep hygiene and managing insomnia