SINGAPORE-BASED RedDoorz on Thursday said it is providing its employees, hotel partners and their staff free online counselling sessions as part of its regional corporate social responsibility initiative.

The mental health support programme, called "Hope Hotline", is being provided through the budget hotel operator's partner counsellors and psychologists with the aim of supporting the mental wellbeing of participants.

RedDoorz has partnered Jakarta-based online health platform KALM to make the programme available in Indonesia. In the Philippines, the company works with individual psychologists to provide video counselling sessions.

RedDoorz will also host a complimentary webinar for all professionals working in the travel and hospitality industry during the last week of May.

The webinar will feature a panel of certified counsellors and psychologists giving information on essential skills and tips on managing daily stress while maintaining emotional wellbeing.

Amit Saberwal, RedDoorz founder and chief executive, said many could be experiencing negative emotions detrimental to emotional and mental wellbeing as the novel coronavirus continues to restrict mobility, with the immediate outlook remaining uncertain.

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This is especially relevant to professionals working in the travel and hospitality industries, who have been subjected to many job-related stresses caused by the major virus-related disruptions to businesses and people's livelihoods.

"We hope the counselling sessions will provide much-needed relief, and spread positivity and optimism," he added.

RedDoorz in March 2020 confirmed that it trimmed nearly 50 staff from its Indonesia office as part of a "periodic staff appraisal exercise" in February. That amounted to around 8 per cent of its more than 600-strong Indonesian team.

The startup joins other Singapore firms in helping employees cope with the anxieties of working during Covid-19 times. Singapore banks DBS and UOB have also leveraged on online platforms to maintain employee mental wellbeing during these times, along with running mental health hotlines.