LaViCa: affordable mental health services
LaViCa is a new mental health app that connects you with local therapists online
Text: Hui Yi Phua
credit: @anniespratt
A recent preliminary study by IMH has suggested that mental health issues in Singapore are likely to increase amid the pandemic. In the study, 13 per cent of over 1,000 participants reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. On a more reassuring note, 81.3 per cent of them indicated their willingness to seek professional help for their mental health issues.
If you too, are considering to go for therapy or counselling and are looking for affordable, convenient options, try LaViCa – a new mental health app that connects you with local therapists online.
LaViCa’s name stems from their goal: La Vida Calma (or “calm life”) – to guide you on your journey for a calmer mind. The team behind LaViCa strongly believes that everyone deserves access to mental health, which is why they’re keeping their therapy session rates affordable.
Users of this app can contact their matched therapist in various mediums – text, audio, or video, which makes seeking professional help more convenient, especially for those who have to work with packed schedules. Users can reach out to their therapists at any time and expect to receive a prompt response within 24 hours, Monday to Friday.
If you’re worried about forming a relationship with your therapist via just texts, LaViCa offers a complimentary one-time get-to-know-you session with your therapist. And if you find that your therapist isn’t suitable for you, just approach LaViCa and they’ll assign a new therapist for you without any questions asked.
Other helpful features on this app include sections where you can key in your daily check-ins, answer reflection prompts, and write a gratitude journal. These functions are free-of-charge and allow you to better track your mental health progress.
LaViCa’s services start at $29/week for asynchronous texting. If you prefer to connect with your therapist in real-time, LaViCa also offers live therapy sessions via an audio or video call at $79/session. You simply need to schedule the live appointments and it can take place as soon as within the hour, which is great for moments where urgency is required.
LaViCa is an important stepping stone to making local mental health services more accessible to the general population. With its cheaper rates and ability to engage with therapists readily through various means, more Singaporeans could be encouraged to seek professional help for mental health issues. And that is definitely a win for everyone.
Download LaViCa now: Android iOS
Click here for more information on LaViCa.
Click here for more mental health resources on The Soothe.
