FORTY-THREE counsellors have been selected to be part of the free counselling service which the Johor government plans to offer under its Ihsan Johor 3.0 financial aid package.
The state government has allocated RM1mil to Darul Ta’zim Family Development Foundation (YPKDT) to set up a counselling clinic as well as conduct a webinar on mental health and psychological tests to help some 10, 000 people.
Foundation chief executive officer Nurul Naqiah Fadzil said free counselling would be available daily from 8am to 10pm beginning early July, with cooperation from the Human Resource Management Secretariat (SUK BPSM).
“The service will be provided online via Zoom and those who need it can call our YPKDT office directly for an appointment, ” she said when contacted.
She further said that the foundation would introduce a webinar, where experts would share tips on mental health through live stream and videos.
“The experts are from state and federal government agencies, the private sector as well as non-governmental organisations, ” she said, adding that the webinars would be held twice a week.
“We will also introduce four counselling clinics in four districts, namely Johor Baru, Segamat, Kluang and Pontian, that will operate daily from 8am to 10pm.
“Additionally, we will have two mobile counselling teams that will target residents in rural areas that do not have access to our online service, ” said Nurul Naqiah, highlighting that this included people staying on the islands in Johor waters.
In addition, she said YPKDT planned to set up a moral support group for those in need such as Covid-19 patients, frontliners, patients’ next-of-kin and tertiary education students.
“We are also in the midst of upgrading the counselling application from SUK BPSM so that it can provide better service and psychological evaluation, with help from the state government’s ICT unit and counsellors from various government agencies.
“The app is expected to be launched this month, ” she said, adding that it would be free.
