Due to continued awareness efforts, RENEW, a civil society organisation is seeing a rise in the number of clients seeking counselling services. Last year alone, over 1,800 individuals reached out for their services, a nearly threefold increase compared to 2022 related to sexual, domestic and gender-based violence. This was highlighted in the CSO’s latest publication focusing on its 20-year journey.
Counsellors at the RENEW attribute the increase in the number of clients to growing awareness on the importance of seeking help.
RENEW said they have been creating awareness from the community level in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and through social media to reach a wider audience.
“There is an increase of clients every year because people are more aware of mental health issues and people are coming forward and seeking our support. Another reason is that people know the importance of counselling and psychosocial support regardless of social stigma,” said Reenu Maya Mongar, a counsellor.
According to RENEW, the clients can walk in to avail themselves of counselling services. The initial sessions assess risks and immediate needs to ascertain whether the home environment poses a threat to safety and if shelter is required.
Although there are also men and children who seek their services, almost 80 per cent of the clients are women.
Despite the increase in the number of help seekers, RENEW said they make sure that there are enough qualified counsellors to meet the needs of the clients.
“When there are many cases with one counsellor, there might be a chance that we will not be able to provide effective and essential services. Counsellors are also likely to go through secondary trauma and that is quite challenging for us to overcome as well. Whenever we go through such kind of trauma, we make sure that we have case consultation and seek supervision as well. Self-care is also something very crucial since it is an important factor in overcoming traumas,” said Reenu Maya Mongar, the counsellor.
As part of the counselling service, RENEW provided more than 100 legal aids to their clients last year and established community service centres in ten districts.
Deki Lhazom
Edited by Tshering Zam
