Trained Counsellors Including Volunteers Need To Register With LKM - Nancy

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- All trained counsellors including volunteers are required to register with the Malaysian Board of Counsellors (LKM) before offering counselling services, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

She said the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) and LKM made the decision so that the counselling provided would be more inclusive and have a high impact, especially for the vulnerable and rural groups.

Nancy said that as of August 2025, there were 12,583 registered counsellors in Malaysia.

“Through the National Counselling Services Policy and Action Plan 2025–2035 which is being drafted, LKM is determined to ensure that this profession remains relevant, ethical and based on human values,” she said when speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2025 National Counselling Month Celebration here, today.

She said KPWKM is committed to strengthening the role of Registered Counsellor Volunteers (SKB) as field heroes who provide support to the community through Talian Kasih 15999 and various community programmes.

Nancy said that as of September 2025, more than 9,700 cases had been successfully handled, including Psychological First Aid assistance to accident victims involving students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) in June, which reflects the true value of empathy and humanity.

“Through the “Are You OK? Let’s Share!” campaign, we also invite Malaysians to be more open in sharing their feelings.

“Sometimes, a small question can give great hope to someone who is struggling. “Are You OK?” not just a question, but a sign that we care, that they are not alone,” she said.

Meanwhile, LKM president Datin Dr Ruhani Mat Min said her party had launched the ‘MYeLKM’ portal, which is a database of registered counsellors with LKM.

She said the database system aims to make it easier for the public to obtain counselling services and check the accreditation of practitioners including registration numbers and areas of operation.

“Any counsellor who offers counselling services must register with LKM once in their lifetime and renew their practitioner’s licence every two years to ensure professionalism as a certified counsellor.

“Currently, the public can use the MYeLKM portal for the review process and the online application will be launched in January 2026,” he said.

October has been declared as National Counselling Month in conjunction with World Mental Health Day since 2016, which has become an important platform to raise public awareness about mental health and strengthen the counselling profession as the frontline of the people's well-being.

-- BERNAMA