“You don’t have to cope by yourself – support is available.” This is the key message from the Director of FAMSA, Anne Harris, as she speaks about the exciting new partnership between Rhodes University and her organisation.
As part of a Staff Wellness Programme initiated by the HR Division, the University has recently signed a contract with FAMSA to provide a counselling, referral and advisory service to Rhodes employees. This means that all Rhodes employees will be able to access up to six face-to-face sessions free of charge with counsellors at the FAMSA offices. These sessions can come about in three ways: as a result of self-referral; informal referral by a manager or colleague; or a formal referral in conjunction with disciplinary or incapacity procedures.
Counselling and advice will be provided in areas related to personal and social functioning, especially with regard to relationships. This could include financial, psycho-social, marital, family, adolescent, substance-related and work-related problems. FAMSA has undertaken to make referrals to more specialised agencies where appropriate, e.g. for substance addiction or serious psychological disturbance.
Some of the advantages of using FAMSA services are that being off-site, it provides employees with the opportunity to receive support in a safe, non-judgemental and anonymous environment which is more confidential. In addition, FAMSA has counsellors available that can match the language of the employees, whether it is English, Afrikaans or isiXhosa. Sessions will mostly take place during lunch-hours, but there is a certain amount of flexibility about after-hours sessions.
Mrs Harris is particularly keen for people to avail themselves of this option before they reach a crisis point. Her advice to anyone with a problem is, “Don’t leave it too long – come when things are feeling uncomfortable and before they get out of control.” She points out that with these sessions they are creating a space where people can have an hour to focus on their own issues (emotions, relationships, etc) and where they can weigh up their options in an objective environment. The counselling sessions can be for individual employees or for the employee plus the relevant family member.
Included in the counselling support that will be provided, is advice to staff that are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS or related issues, especially with regard to how they can deal with it in their families and communities. FAMSA is in touch with all the relevant HIV/AIDS support organisations in Grahamstown and can do the necessary referrals.
FAMSA has agreed that if the amount of counselling time paid for by the University is not fully used by employees, they will make it up by providing training to relevant groups, e.g. the HIV/AIDS Peer Supporters. They are also willing to do talks for individual departments or divisions on campus to make their services known.
“We are excited about this contract, because it is a win-win situation,” says Mrs Harris. “We are providing a valuable service to Rhodes employees, while generating income for FAMSA as a non-government organisation.”