SINGAPORE — The Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) launched a new online text chat service on Friday (May 8) to offer abuse survivors more support as demand for its helpline services surges amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

With its new online text chat, Aware said it hopes to reach survivors of abuse and violence whose circumstances prevent them from calling its helpline, such as those without enough privacy to phone and those who have to hang up mid-call when their abusers enter the room.

Aware said that during the text chat, its representatives can provide emotional support and practical information. They can also make referrals to counsellors and legal clinics and advise callers on other resources such as crisis shelters, family service centres, family violence specialist centres and the Family Justice Court, Aware said in a media statement.

“We recognise that being able to make a phone call is a freedom that many individuals are not afforded right now,” said Aware executive director Corinna Lim in the statement. “We hope therefore that our new chat can provide more focused and direct assistance to survivors of violence who do not feel safe speaking on a call.”

According to Aware, women in abusive relationships are more likely to experience violence from their spouses, partners or relatives during Singapore's circuit breaker period. This is because some of them are required to stay at home, and are unable to seek respite in their work, school or other daily activities.

Aware said it received a record 619 calls on its helpline in March, including messages, emails, walk-ins and referrals, the most in one month in the helpline's 29-year history. In April, it received 596 calls, including 43 calls on April 14 — the most received in one day.

Many of the calls were to seek support for family violence situations. In April, 125 calls were received regarding family violence, more than twice the number of such calls received in the same month last year.

In order to meet the increased demand, Aware has also bolstered its staff strength and expanded the number of phone lines on its women's helpline to three, up from two previously.

To use the new service, women in distress can visit Aware’s website at https://www.aware.org.sg/womens-care-centre/callback-chat/ to schedule a 30-minute text chat over Zoom. Appointments can be made from Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm, except on public holidays.