By Aida Mohamed Nyan
SHAH ALAM, Aug 2 — Household conflicts and depression are among the most frequently raised issues by the public to the Selangor Counselling Centre (PKS).
Its coordinator Faridah Abdul Jalil said the number of complainants at the centre, which offers free counselling services, has increased over the past three years.
Approximately 200 complainants were recorded in 2021 before rising to 600 complainants (2022), followed by 747 complainants (2023).
“Referring to the statistics, the highest issue is family-related, involving disharmonious relationships between spouses, which leads to life stress.
“Mental health issues like depression and stress are also frequently reported at PKS,” she said during the Hai Selangor talk show programme yesterday.
Faridah said the group most seeking counselling and psychological services are youths aged 29 to 40 years.
“At their age, they are usually in the process of adjusting to various life events. This includes getting married, looking for jobs, and many issues that arise for them to resolve.
“So they come, and PKS helps them figure out how to adapt to their environment. If they fail to adapt properly, they tend to face stress,” she said.
Faridah also urged the public seeking counselling and psychological services to contact PKS directly and seek help from registered certified counsellors with the Malaysian Board of Counsellors.
“So far, PKS has 26 counsellors, consisting of 13 men and 13 women. Appointments can be made by contacting PKS or coming directly to the offices in Shah Alam, Ampang Jaya, Selayang, and Sepang.
“Do not wait until it is critical; seek help as soon as possible,” she said.
Complainants can also receive counselling services through the Selangor Mental Sihat hotline by contacting 1700-82-7536 or 1700-82-7537.
