Availing counselling services will become easier and more accessible as the Ministry of Education and Skills Development has launched an innovative e-counselling platform. It was launched in the capital today. The new initiative is designed to facilitate online counselling and connect people with trained professionals who can offer guidance, support, and advice on mental health and other issues.
The online service can be accessed through the ‘Sherig Counselling Services’ Facebook page and the ministry’s official website.
On their Facebook page, users can click on the ‘contact us’ option, which will direct them to the Google sheet form. After filling out the form, a counsellor will get in touch with clients to begin the counselling session.
“Because of a lot of individuals who are deprived of availing face-to-face counselling services, we are now launching this to provide accessible professional counselling services to those people who are finding difficulties to avail in-person counselling services,” said Reena Thapa, Chief Counsellor of Career Education and Counselling Division.
She added that the e-counselling will operate with a team of trained and certified counsellors. There are currently 160 counsellors for this service.
“We have counsellors in most of the secondary schools, so children can opt to avail themselves of the services in person or online. For example, if a child is not comfortable seeing the counsellor in person, I can always avail the online counselling, what we call e-counselling.”
According to the ministry, this digital platform is targeted for students but it is also available for the general public. People facing problems, especially with mental health are urged to come forward and seek support.
Deki Lhazom
Edited by Tshering Zam