By Lydia Winda

On March 5-7, Kenya Universities Professional Counselors Association (KUPCA) held a workshop under the theme ‘mental well-being in universities in Kenya’ at Pwani University in Kilifi and was attended by counselors from more than 22 public and private universities in Kenya including USIU-Africa.

Dr. Matilda Mghoi, CEO/Registrar Counselors & Psychologists Board, who was also the keynote speaker stated that mental wellbeing of students, staff and faculty is a foundation of a healthier fraternity. “There is no health without mental health,” she said. Reiterating the role of counselors in supporting Counselors and Psychologists board, she reminded counselors that it is their mandate to register and be licensed for the government to recognize them officially so as to help weed out imposters who are a threat to the profession. She further addressed the challenges faced by students including adjustment issues when they join campus, identity crisis, peer pressure, transition challenges among others. To solve these challenges, Dr. Matilda encouraged counselors and psychologists to tailor interventions that will deal with emerging issues and collaborate with university management, staff and faculty to make this possible. Moreover, she stressed that staff and faculty need to be empowered adequately on matters to do with mental health through provision of psychological first aid training in universities, provision of tele counseling and ensuring well established counseling departments in universities which USIU-Africa has already implemented.

The discussions ranged from inclusion of counselling in policy reforms of every university to fostering a culture of care, support, and proactive mental health initiatives to common challenges faced by universities in relation to counseling such as self and public stigma, inadequate funding, and shortage of qualified mental health professionals to interventions. The interventions discussed include, increased psychosocial support for staff, collaboration with the government, private sector, university management and other key players in the various fields.

Gracing the event was Prof. John Mutei – The Director, Research, Policy & Planning who presented the findings of the state of alcohol and drug use among university students. Based on a study conducted on 15,678 students in 17 Kenyan public and private universities, the report showed more private university students used drugs than those in public universities with the highest number getting drugs from friends. Counselors were encouraged to continue with their role of psycho-educating students on drugs and their effects so as to manage demand suppression and to support those who are already using them for harm reduction. The role of university counselors was stressed in as far as managing alcohol and drug related issues among university students is concerned.

Other areas covered during the workshop include relationship dynamics among university students, psychological assessments/mental state assessment, case conference experience sharing on mental health in universities with focus on state of mental health in universities, and self-care for counselors (caring for the helpers).

Continuous professional development and psychological education plays a pivotal role in professional growth of counselors just as it is with other professionals and this insightful workshop not only enhanced their knowledge and skills but also allowed them to learn a lot from one another.