TITLE:
Does the Training of Human Resource Officers in Malawi Include Counselling Skills Education and Practice for Workplace Mental Health? Human Resource Officers’ Experiences
AUTHORS:
John Kuyokwa, Bright Limani, Christina Chithila, George Kaudza Masina, Yotam Machila, Charles Chalimba
KEYWORDS:
Training, Human Resource Officers, Malawi, Counselling, Skills, Education, Practice, Workplace, Mental Health, Perspectives
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.14 No.6,
June
18,
2026
ABSTRACT: The study aimed to explore whether training of Human Resource Officers in Malawi includes counselling skills education and practice for workplace mental health. This study has helped to understand the potential and knowledge deficits among human resources officers in provision of counselling services at workplace. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used whilst utilizing qualitative methods. 29 participants were involved in this study. The results showed that there is a need to address mental health challenges among employees at workplace. This study observed that HR officers believe that there is need to address psycho-social problems among employees, that majority of curriculums for HR degree programs in Malawi do not include counselling module, and that HR officers should consider training in counselling and mental health. Therefore, HR Officers’ curriculum in different universities and colleges has to address the gap of counselling concepts in their curriculum.