Abstract:
Introduction: Psychological counselling and guidance is a recently discovered,
modern way of solving problems. Most of the time, it involves clarifying matters
and showing possibilities to the client.
Objective: To assess the awareness, attitude, and utilization of psychological
counselling and guidance among undergraduates at the University of Jaffna.
Methodology: This institute-based descriptive cross-sectional study was
conducted among 426 undergraduates of the University of Jaffna. Data was
collected using a self-administered questionnaire and SPSS 25 software was used
to analyse the data. Descriptive statistical test; mean, frequency, percentages were
used to analyse the data. Five faculties were selected by convenience sampling
method and participants were selected from each faculty by proportionate random
sampling method.
Results: University students (87.4%) were aware of the University counselling
services and guidance. The majority (42.9%) got this awareness through their
orientation programmes. Many (32.5%) approached counsellors for academic
problems. Among them (78.9%) believed university counselling was a good service
and was important to release their stressors (25.2%). However, (94.3%) of
participants had never utilized the University counselling system. Only a few
(5.7%) were used. Some (45.5%) were not satisfied with the service offered.
Conclusion: The majority of the participants were aware of university counselling
services at A positive attitude was observed among participants towards
counselling services. Although the counselling centre offers a variety of services,
most of the participants were not aware of it and those who used the counselling
services were less.
