By S Adeeb Mujtaba Ali
Since the dawn of society, counseling has been an important part. Right from grandparents to parents advising other family members followed by providing guidance to residents by community leaders, counseling has always been an important and organic part of the human experience. During the Industrial Revolution era when people and their mobility increased by migrating to other lands, the traditional essence of counselors was lost due to separation from their families and communities. Following which there was a communication gap, people started feeling isolated and led them to approach for psychiatric help or landing to asylums.
In present times people started opting for modern psychiatry, which is nothing but professional counseling, a current trend taking rounds to keep a check on mental health. However, the presence of inefficient mental health institutes led to, a mental hygiene movement —headed by a cohort of psychiatrists, social workers, and psychologists. The importance of counseling was realized when president John F. Kennedy signed Community Mental Health Act in 1963. The act implementation finally changed the delivery of mental health services and several mental health centers across the country were established. Simultaneously, this led to the shutting down of many psychiatric hospitals since community-based services started enhancing.
To be continued......,
