The aging population in Malaysia faces unique mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, loneliness, and social isolation. To improve the mental health and overall quality of life of Malaysian older adults, it is essential to identify the need and develop the necessary competencies for counselors working with older adults. This review article includes the increasing prevalence of mental disorders among older adults in Malaysia and emphasizes the need for enhanced access to effective mental health care and the gerontology counseling competencies required to address the mental health needs of the aging population. It also highlights the importance of incorporating gerontology counseling courses into the curricula of public universities, establishing competency standards, and fostering collaboration among counselors, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to improve the mental well-being and overall quality of life for older adults in Malaysia, which aligns with the Nati.....

132 hits

Counselors play a vital role in supporting the mental health and well-being of older adults by recognizing and respecting their unique needs. This research marks a significant milestone in developing a gerontology counseling competency model aimed at enhancing counselors' professional proficiency. In this qualitative phase, interviews were conducted with fifteen counselors registered with the Malaysia Board of Counselors, selected using purposive sampling to identify essential elements for the model. By analyzing detailed narratives from semi-structured interviews, the study seeks to uncover key elements that support effective counseling practices for older adults. These elements, grounded in the counselors' experiences, include a wide range of qualities crucial for managing the complexity of counseling older adults. The data analysis revealed that counselors require several essential elements in their practice, including professional knowledge, counseling skills, techniques and tools,.....

54 hits