THRIVE – that’s the watchword for Supt Sam Lee and his fellow paracounsellors at the CID.
By: Mike Tan
For Superintendent of Police (Supt) Sam Lee, Deputy Head of the Financial Investigation Branch (FIB) at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the rewards of his work are clear – “The FIB is responsible for conducting financial investigations against syndicated and organised criminals, and also for confiscating assets derived from illicit activities,” he explained. “This work allows me to focus on people, learning and partnerships; and prevent criminals from enjoying their ill-gotten gains.”
In addition to his primary duties as an officer, Supt Lee also finds much meaning as a Paracounsellor Team Leader. He explains how Police Psychological Services Department (PPSD) and CID came up with the THRIVE framework and initiatives to enhance officers’ mental well-being!
Tell us about your policing journey.
I joined the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in 2008 and have previously completed postings at Central Police Division, the Commercial Affairs Department and Tanglin Police Division.
When did you first become a paracounsellor, and why did you want to serve?
I became a paracounsellor in 2012 because I wanted to learn the basic skills of counselling and help whoever is in need. I was appointed a Team Leader in 2020. When I put on my paracounsellor’s hat, I get to reach out to my fellow officers, listen to them share about their challenges and offer them support. Sometimes, all they need is a listening ear and the knowledge that someone cares for them.
What does your role as a Paracounsellor Team Leader involve?
On a day-to-day basis, I coordinate paracounselling requests from officers and assign a suitable paracounsellor to render support to officers in need. In the event of critical incidents, I coordinate between unit supervisors and the PPSD to deploy necessary resources and activate paracounsellors to provide psychological first aid.
Tell us about the THRIVE framework that your team developed.
Due to the stressful nature of policing and investigative work, we felt that there was a need for more initiatives to enhance the mental well-being of officers in the investigation community. That’s why we worked together with the PPSD in 2020 to launch THRIVE, which stands for “Team Support, Healthy, Resilient, Involved, Versatile, Energised.”
During “peacetime,” we plan activities related to our THRIVE framework, share mental health resources with officers in the investigation community and raise awareness about how they can access support. In 2023, we continued to organise the THRIVE Week for officers in the investigation community.
As part of the broader SPF paracounsellor network, last year, we helped to plan a retreat for fellow Paracounsellors so that we could share best practices in maintaining resilience and destigmatising help-seeking among officers. This was our first such retreat since the COVID-19 pandemic and it helped to strengthen our sense of camaraderie and collaboration.
Congratulations to CID’s paracounsellors for receiving the Significant Achievement Award (Team) this year from the PPSD for your contributions as a team. Finally, what’s the unique value that paracounsellors can offer to officers in need?
As paracounsellors, we uphold the values of trust, open-mindedness and passion in service to our officers. I hope that colleagues who need help or a listening ear will give us a chance to talk to them.
SPF Paracounsellors’ Appointment and Awards Ceremony
On 15 February 2024, the PPSD and SPF Paracounselling Committee (ParaComm) held its annual SPF Paracounsellors’ Appointment and Awards Ceremony. At the Ceremony, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Policy) Jerry See presented appointment certificates to newly appointed paracounsellors, senior paracounsellors, unit Paracounsellor Team Leaders and ParaComm Subcommittee heads. At the close of the Ceremony, paracounsellors who were present stood to take the paracounsellor Pledge, reaffirming their unwavering commitment to their mission and cause.
Read about Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Bridget Goh’s journey as a veteran paracounsellor in Part 1 of “Walking Together as One SPF.”
Explore Our Content
Editor's Pick
