Outreach efforts reveal need for early emotional intervention and parental involvement: Minister
KUALA LUMPUR: Students are more likely to seek emotional support from external counsellors than from those in their own schools due to fear of disciplinary action, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
She said outreach programmes have revealed that many students only open up when speaking to counsellors brought in from outside, pointing to a serious trust deficit within school counselling systems.
“During the Gali Potensi Diri programmes, students open up to external counsellors.
They are afraid that if they speak to counsellors in their schools, action would be taken against them.
“This tells us that there are issues of trust we need to address,” she said during the closing ceremony of National Counselling Month yesterday.
Nancy said the ministry’s outreach efforts have uncovered troubling signs, including students as young as 13 engaging in sexual relationships, underscoring the need for early emotional intervention and parental involvement.
“This is not about blaming parents.
Parenting today is incredibly challenging.
“But we cannot assume our children are too young to be exposed or affected.
We must be present and attentive.
“If they do not have a safe channel to talk, they will look for answers elsewhere.
That is when risky behaviour or unhealthy online influences could take over.”
She warned that the growing demand for emotional and psychological support has led to a rise in unqualified individuals offering counselling services, putting public safety and professionalism at risk.
Nancy stressed that only counsellors registered with the Malaysian Board of Counsellors are legally recognised to practise, particularly when cases involve the courts.
“If someone claiming to be a counsellor is called to court, the judge would ask: ‘Where is your proof of professionalism?’
“Being trained to guide or handle people at work is not the same as being a registered counsellor.
“If you are practising counselling, make sure you are registered.”
As of August, Malaysia had 12,583 registered counsellors, which is insufficient given the surge in mental health concerns, she said.
She cited Health Ministry data showing that one in three Malaysians experiences anxiety or depression, while police recorded over 1,100 suicide cases in 2021, a sharp rise from previous years.
Domestic violence cases also exceeded 7,000 reports in 2024.
Nancy cautioned against over-reliance on digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) for mental health support.
“We must remember that AI is artificial.
We are natural intelligence.
Technology can assist, but it cannot replace human empathy.
“A counsellor needs a heart, feelings and emotional presence.
A machine cannot provide that.”
She reiterated that counselling services must remain ethical and accessible, particularly for rural and low-income communities, and urged those in need to contact Talian Kasih 15999 for immediate help.
