The Counselling Association in Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter is advocating the establishment of counselling unit in any organisation that has up to twenty employees. The new state chairman of the association Austin Jonah stated this in an interview with our reporter shortly after he emerged the winner of the election that brought him into power, Austin Jonah who is also a former president of the Trade Union Congress said the issue of drug abuse, economic hardship and the host of other economic challenges confronting Nigerians requires their counselling to avoid falling into depression.
Austin Jonah further stated that their profession is not an ordinary profession, it is a calling, and because it is a calling they are ready to reach out to those in trauma, those passing through stress, those in the elderly homes, people that are retiring and even those that are working class because of the economic stress they are passing through, intimidation and embarrassment they face in their offices. Adding that even the National Counsil Policy states that any office you have more than twenty persons should have a counselling unit.
As a newly elected chairman of the Counselling Association of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter, Mr. Austin Jonah promised to carry out a lot of innovation that will help the public and promote the association. He said he will ensure they reach out to the people they will be working with and bring succor to Rivers State. And to achieve this, he said they will need the support of government, private sector and the media. Stating that without the media , they will not be able to reach out to the people. Adding that they will have a programe on radio where there will be radio counsellors, and as the people call in with questions, they will be able to provide solutions.
