Attitudes of students towards counselling services at Makerere University

Abstract

Counselling services are very essential for emotional stability of individuals in need. University life is full of many challenges that call for external emotional support. The Makerere University Counselling and Guidance Centre help. The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of students towards counselling services at Makerere University. I conducted a case study involving students at the School of Social sciences in their third academic year. Participants were selected using purposive sampling technique and they were interviewed using the in depth interview method. The staff (counsellors) at Makerere University Counselling and Guidance Centre participated in this study as key informants. My study findings show that students in the School of Social Sciences in third year were aware about the availability of the counselling services within the university premises and they knew the importance of counselling as a service rendered to someone who needs help with emotional problems. The students were aware that they can be helped with these services. However, the students preferred to seek this kind of service from their friends, family, church leaders, fellowships; some students claimed to be able to handle their own emotional problems. Participants also stated the different ways they solve their problems without considering counselling as a service. Participants also reported different personal experiences they as well as what they knew from their friends which affected their attitude towards counselling services. Thus, my findings show both negative and positive attitudes towards counselling services at Makerere University. Students also shared the different factors that caused them to seek counselling services regardless of whether it was professional or not. Key informants reported that the utilization of the counselling services is still low and a lot has to be done to fight the stigma and misconceptions associated with counselling services such that it can be fully utilized. Participants also stated their expectations of what counselling should be like and recommended a number of ideas such that counselling is fully taken up.