Is a mobile counseling unit the best option?

Jun 23, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor,

If counseling is already available in each region, as recently pointed out by Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson, shouldn’t the Ministry of Education ensure that all parents are aware of where and how this counseling can be accessed?
Also, should there not be, at the minimum, trained lay counselors at schools to ensure each school has a minimum level of expertise to identify and refer all cases requiring counseling? And should there not also be a law mandating teachers to report issues such as suspected abuse, suicide ideation et al?
As well, with the move to set up a mobile counseling unit, which will be driven into different areas (and) communities based upon the needs, how would this work for regions that can only be accessed by air? And what about the length of time it would take to travel to distanced areas such as, for example, Corriverton or the Pomeroon.
And how effective would such a unit be given that counseling is not a one off measure but has to be ongoing to ensure desired results?
In fact has a cost benefit analysis been done with respect to this unit? With a pool of trained counselors now available, would it not be less costly in terms of money, time and results to initially have all education districts staffed with trained counselors who can also access other available, needed resources?
And with UG now offering a psychology program, secondary schools can also have their own counselors within a few years.
Sincerely
Name Supplied

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