Building Adolescent Mental Health Through Guidance and Counseling Services

Abstract

 Adolescent mental health in Indonesia is currently facing increasingly complex challenges. This study aims to understand the role of Guidance and Counseling services in schools in supporting adolescent mental health. These services are expected to help students cope with stress, anxiety, and personal issues, while also fostering a deeper understanding of the importance of maintaining mental health. Using a qualitative approach, the research gathered data through interviews with school counselors, observations of the implementation of the guidance and counseling program, and questionnaires administered to students. The findings indicate that guidance and counseling services have a significant positive impact in helping students manage academic and social pressures. Approximately 80% of students who attended counseling sessions reported feeling emotionally better, while 68% became more aware of the importance of mental health and more capable of recognizing signs of mental disorders in themselves. However, despite these clear benefits, the study also identifies several challenges, such as limited time, a shortage of counselors, and stigma that still prevents some students from seeking help. Overall, while guidance and counseling services provide substantial benefits, the study recommends that more attention be given to counselor training, adequate time allocation, and stigma reduction in order to maximize the effectiveness of these services.