The prevalence of mental health issues in young people is staggering, yet many face barriers in accessing professional help. These barriers, including stigma and long waiting lists, can prevent those in need from receiving the support they require. Teletherapy, which utilizes technology to connect individuals with mental health professionals, is emerging as a promising solution to overcome these obstacles. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of online therapy globally, with therapists swiftly transitioning to digital platforms. The effectiveness of online therapy in youth, and factors that may potentially affect this, warrant further investigation. In a randomized controlled trial, this study therefore aims to compare the results of online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to traditional in-person treatment, thereby investigating the modifying role of therapeutic alliance, willingness to participate in teletherapy sessions, age, and gender. The study will use a randomized non-inferiority design and block randomization to assign help-seeking young people aged 12-18 that are eligible for EMDR or ACT treatment to either online or in-person therapy in specialized mental health care (SMHC). Data analysis will include both intention-to-treat and "per protocol" analyses using mixed models. Participants and their caregiver(s) will complete questionnaires on societal functioning and symptom severity at baseline, at the end of treatment and at 6-month follow-up. Therapeutic alliance will be assessed 2 months into treatment and at the end of treatment. Peer experts were actively involved in the study design to ensure the incorporation of patient and relative perspectives. This study seeks to assess whether teletherapy can be a viable and accessible option for young people in need of mental health support. The findings from this research have the potential to inform mental health services and policies, and to contribute to the ongoing development of digital mental health interventions for young people. Ultimately, the study's results may help improve access to mental health care and support for young people facing barriers to traditional in-person therapy. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06617663. Registered on September 27, 2024.

Background: Adolescents are a group vulnerable to experiencing stress, especially during online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in the learning system, limited social interaction, and academic pressure lead to psychological disorders such as anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and a decrease in learning motivation. This community service activity aims to improve the mental health of adolescents through stress management education at SMK Negeri 1 Sambi Boyolali. Methods: The activity method was carried out using an online counselling and training approach involving 66 twelfth-grade students. The activity was conducted in two sessions over 10 days, with guidance from lecturers and students. The material provided includes understanding stress, positive self-talk techniques, deep breathing relaxation, and study time management. Evaluation was conducted using the Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-29) before and after the activity. Results: The results of the activity show an increase in participants' knowledge and skills in recognising and managing stress. The average stress score decreased significantly, with a 58.5% increase in positive coping abilities after training. Most participants also reported feeling calmer, more confident, and more motivated in their learning. Conclusion: This activity proves that stress management education is effective as a promotive and preventive effort in maintaining the mental health of adolescents, and can be implemented as a model for psychological guidance in secondary schools.

The study examined available institutional mechanisms for the reintegration of offenders in Nigeria and determined if these mechanisms enhance the proper reintegration of offenders into society. These were the views on advancing knowledge about the effectiveness of institutional mechanisms in promoting the reintegration of offenders in Nigeria. Data were gathered through Key Informant Interviews with 16 key informants who were drawn from 2 high-ranking correctional officers, 2 online distance learning correctional tutors, 2 members of the Justice, Development and Peace Commission of the Catholic Archdiocese, and 2 officers of CLEEN (Centre for Law Enforcement Education) foundation in Lagos and Abuja, respectively. Lagos and Abuja were selected because both host medium-level correctional institutions with high-profile convicted criminals. The choice of participants was based on their knowledge about the subject matter. Data were analysed using descriptive thematic analysis. The findings indicated that Inmates’ Internship Programme (IIP), Online Distance Learning (ODL), sporting, vocational studies, guidance and counselling, ICT-coding, and economic empowerment programmes are among the available institutional mechanisms for the reintegration of offenders in Nigeria. The findings also revealed that these mechanisms hardly have any positive impact on the proper reintegration of offenders in Nigeria. It concluded that the effectiveness of these institutional mechanisms is limited due to overcrowding, adversarial inmate-officer relations, and insufficient funding, poor nationwide orientation about the acceptance of offenders, as well as officer misconduct.

HIV self-testing (HIVST) with online real-time support by human administrators (HIVST-OIC) is an evidence-based HIV intervention for men who have sex with men (MSM) but requires intensive resources to implement. To investigate whether a novel HIVST service using a chatbot to deliver online real-time instruction and counseling support (HIVST-chatbot) is noninferior to the HIVST-OIC in increasing HIVST uptake and counseling support for MSM. A partially blinded, parallel-group, and noninferiority randomized clinical trial was conducted between April 16, 2023, and May 31, 2024, in Hong Kong, China. Eligible participants were Hong Kong-based, Chinese-speaking MSM 18 years or older who reported anal intercourse with men in the past 6 months and had access to WhatsApp. Participants were recruited via gay venues, online recruitment, and peer referrals and then randomized to the HIVST-chatbot or HIVST-OIC groups. Both intention-to-treat (ITT) and complete case analyses were performed. The noninferiority margin was set at 10 percentage points. Standard-of-care pretest and posttest counseling was delivered by a chatbot for the HIVST-chatbot group and by trained human administrators in the HIVST-OIC group. Both groups received free HIVST kits. Primary outcomes included self-reported HIVST uptake and receiving any counseling support along with HIVST, validated by the research team. A total of 531 participants (mean [SD] age, 34.8 [9.3] years) were randomized to either the HIVST-chatbot (n = 266) or HIVST-OIC (n = 265) groups. In ITT analysis, the HIVST-chatbot was noninferior to the HIVST-OIC in increasing HIVST uptake (216 [81.2%] vs 227 [85.7%]; proportion difference, -4.5 percentage points; 95% CI, -9.8 to 0.8 percentage points; 1-sided P = .10) and proportion of HIVST users who received counseling support (197 [91.2%] vs 142 [62.6%]; proportion difference, 28.7 percentage points; 95% CI, 22.5 to 34.8 percentage points; 1-sided P < .001) at month 6. The HIVST-chatbot was more cost-effective than HIVST-OIC. In this randomized clinical trial, the HIVST-chatbot was noninferior to the HIVST-OIC in increasing HIVST uptake and counseling among HIVST users. These results suggest that the HIVST-chatbot might be an alternative to the evidence-based HIVST-OIC service for MSM. ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier: NCT05796622.

Introduction. Currently, there is an increase in Russian-Chinese relations in various spheres of life, including education. At the same time, there are some restrictions on the admission of Chinese applicants to higher education programs of artistic orientation in regional universities in Russia. The purpose of our research is to identify trends and factors influencing the choice of artistic educational programs in regional universities in Russia. Materials and methods. The study was conducted during 2023-2024 on the basis of various universities and schools in China. The research was carried out by teachers of the Department of Arts of Tyumen State University, the Department of Music Education of the Ural State Pedagogical University and teachers of Changchun State University. The target group included 95 respondents, 79 students from higher educational institutions in China, and 16 students from an experimental secondary school with artistic experience. The results of the study. The factors of attractiveness of educational services for Chinese youth in Russian universities have been identified: the reputation of universities; a set of learning criteria; job prospects; the opportunity to stay in the country; geographical accessibility. The limitations and risks affecting the possibility of studying at a regional university of the Russian Federation were identified: Chinese students attributed the language barrier (41,7%-85,71%), tuition costs (20%-91,43%), travel to the place of study (10%-68,57%), territorial remoteness (8,3%-45%) and complexity to such restrictions. adaptation (30%-62,86%), isolation from parents (25%-45,71%); Chinese schoolchildren identified ignorance of Russian cultural peculiarities (50%), ignorance of visual arts programs (50%) among the limitations and risks. KEYWORDS Conclusion. The results obtained empirically make it possible to predict the system of support and adaptation of foreign (Chinese) applicants at a Russian university. Such a system may include the introduction of online learning and counseling, cultural education activities, familiarization with national and regional norms and traditions of Russia, and more. The necessity of creating a system of support and support for applicants before admission to higher education institutions in Russia, including the creation of adapted preparatory courses for entrance examinations; communication using modern information technologies with foreign applicants through social networks, educational forums and conferences; creation of a unified educational platform uniting universities (not only central, but also regional) is revealed Russian and foreign applicants. There is also a need to promote art-oriented educational programs to foreign markets, including China.

Understanding factors related to treatment retention in an online mental health support service: Analysis of a service database.

BackgroundSince the pandemic, there has been an evident increase in demand for online psychotherapy. There exist studies focusing on the effectiveness of online therapy and identifying the situations in which it may be helpful, but a gap in literature was found on studying the effectiveness and therapeutic alliance of online psychotherapy compared to face-to-face psychotherapy.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and the evolution of therapeutic alliance between face-to-face and online psychological interventions, from the perspective of both therapists and patients. This article aims to be a continuation of the study initiated by Mercadal and Cabré in which, among other conclusions, it was found that the therapeutic alliance in an online intervention was significantly good, although not as good as in a face-to-face intervention.MethodsA total of 187 subjects aged between 18 and 29 years old participated anonymously and voluntarily in the study, 81 (43.3%), of whom were men and 106 (56.7%) were women. The instruments used were socio-demographic data, the patient version of SOFTA-o (System for Observing Family Therapeutic Alliances-observational), CORE-OM (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure), and HoNOS (The Health of the Nation Outcome Scales).ResultsThe results show that there is more preference for the in-person modality than online. A correlation is also observed between CORE-Om pre and HoNOS pre; and CORE-OM post and HoNOS post, which indicates agreement between patient and therapist regarding the evolution of the treatment. At the same time, patients and therapists report better results in person than online (d = 0.76 and d = 0.91, respectively).ConclusionTherapists perceive a greater improvement after the treatment rather than do patients. In addition, post-treatment scores showing an improvement in the symptomatology are related to a greater Therapeutic Alliance after treatment. Concerning the main aim of this article, both patients and therapists reported that face-to-face therapy obtains better results than the online modality, a finding consistent with the authors’ preliminary studies. However, there are some limitations, such as self-selection of modality by participants, the use of a single therapist, the sample of university students, and the lack of post-intervention follow-up.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, while clinical psychologists played a crucial role in supporting mental health, their well-being was overlooked compared to other healthcare professionals. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the trend levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress among psychologists during the pandemic and explore how these levels are related to demographic characteristics, personality traits, and self-compassion. One hundred and ten psychologists who provided online counseling during the pandemic participated in all three-time points of the study conducted from January to October 2021 in the midst of the pandemic. The validated Indonesian versions of the DASS-21, Big Five Personality, and Self-Compassion Scale were surveyed. The results indicated that despite no significant longitudinal changes in stress, anxiety, and depression levels (p > 0.05) over nine months, the prevalence of moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress was noted in 10.9%−14.5%; 22.7%−30.9%; and 11.8%−14.5%; respectively. In terms of protective and risk factors, being married, older age, higher openness to experience, higher extraversion, and higher conscientiousness emerged as potential protective factors against mental health issues. Additionally, self-compassion was linked to depression, anxiety, and stress at corresponding time points; however, its impact diminished over time. Meanwhile, stress emerged as a significant predictor of both depression and anxiety. These findings demonstrate that the mental health of psychologists during the pandemic was not severely affected over time. Compared with other populations, the levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress are lower. The results may indicate that Indonesian psychologists are able to cope with very stressful situations, like a global pandemic. Future studies should focus on protective factors.

"Staying power:" Determining what keeps online counselors devoted to their jobs.

The 10306 Psychosocial Support Helpline is an innovative national mental health service in Greece, established in March 2020 and currently funded under the Programme of the National Recovery and Resilience Facility Plan, Greece 2.0, European Union - Next Generation EU, under the political auspices of the Ministry of Health. It operates 24/7, is anonymous and free of charge, and serves as a central hub for mental health support with four main options: (1) immediate psychological support for adults in crisis; (2) psychosocial needs assessment for adults; (3) support for families, children and adolescents (including parenting skills support); and (4) specialized care for Ukrainian refugees. Over 540,000 calls have been received to date. All calls are answered by a multidisciplinary team of licensed psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, and child psychiatrists and child psychologists, ensuring professional care. Immediate intervention (20-40 minutes) is offered, and if further help is needed, an internal digital referral system links callers to either the on-call psychiatrist, brief psychotherapy service, or social work unit, depending on assessed needs. A key innovation is the brief psychotherapy service: a time-limited (12-16 week) online psychotherapy program, offered to selected adults and parents based on eligibility criteria. This is the only non-anonymous service option, though it is still free of charge. The helpline is theoretically grounded in Group Analysis and Systems-Centered Theory. It functions not only as a psychosocial tool for the public but also as a live matrix for inter-professional reflection, mutual empowerment, and adaptive growth. New services are added or revised based on caller needs and broader social demands. The service exemplifies a scalable, multidisciplinary, and cost-effective model of public mental health service delivery, emphasizing connectivity among professionals, transparency, and responsiveness to evolving societal needs.

IntroductionChronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent global condition that significantly impairs quality of life, reduces work productivity and imposes substantial healthcare burdens. Approximately 70% of adults worldwide experience at least one episode of low back pain during their lifetime. Central sensitisation, a common complexity of CLBP, involves heightened responsiveness of the central nervous system, resulting in amplified neural signalling and increased pain sensitivity. This phenomenon suggests that pain in CLBP extends beyond purely biomedical origins, involving multiple factors such as neural adaptation. Graded Motor Imagery (GMI) is a progressive, exercise-based therapeutic approach designed to retrain the brain’s representation of the body and has shown promise in managing pain associated with central sensitisation.Methods and analysisThis randomised controlled trial aims to assess the efficacy of remote GMI therapy compared with conventional in-clinic therapy in CLBP patients exhibiting pain sensitisation. Adults aged 20–50 years with persistent low back pain for at least 6 months will be included. Exclusion criteria comprise significant spinal pathology, recent spinal surgery, severe mental disorders, other major chronic pain conditions, high baseline pain levels (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS >7), neurological motor disorders and pregnancy. Eligible participants will be randomised into either an online therapy group or a control group. The online therapy group will engage in GMI exercises using the ‘Recognise’ app, encompassing tasks such as left/right discrimination, explicit motor imagery and mirror therapy, performed twice daily for 10 min each. The control group will participate in equivalent exercises supervised by a physical therapist, employing physical aids for cognitive tasks and mirror therapy. Both groups will undergo an intensive 6-week therapy phase followed by a 6-month maintenance phase involving weekly sessions to reinforce progress and prevent relapse. Primary outcomes, including pain intensity (VAS) and functional disability (Oswestry Disability Index), alongside secondary measures of pain sensitivity and quality of life, will be assessed at baseline and at 3-month and 6-month follow-ups.Ethics and disseminationThe study protocol has been approved by the Shanghai University of Sport Scientific Research Ethics Committee. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Study results will be disseminated through publications in international peer-reviewed journals and presentations at academic conferences.Trial registration numberChiCTR2400084205.

Abstract Objective: This study examines the effectiveness of an adapted interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) model for acute crisis in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms among individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 33 participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 16), which received an eight-week online psychotherapy program, or a control group (n = 17), which participated in weekly check-ins without structured therapy. Psychological distress was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Epidemic Disease Anxiety Scale at pretest and posttest. Between-group differences were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and independent sample t-tests, depending on the distribution of the data. Results: The intervention group showed slight reductions in depression and anxiety scores; however, these changes were not statistically significant compared to the control group. No significant differences were found between groups in pretest or posttest scores for any of the psychological measures (p &gt; 0.05). The findings suggest that interpersonal psychotherapy, even when adapted for crisis conditions, may have limited effectiveness in addressing pandemic-related distress. Conclusion: The results highlight the challenges of implementing psychotherapy during large-scale public health emergencies. The prolonged and multifaceted nature of pandemic-related distress, the online delivery format, and the role of broader socio-economic stressors may have contributed to the intervention’s limited impact. Future research should explore alternative intervention models, long-term treatment effects, and the optimal timing for psychological support during crises. Developing integrated, multimodal approaches that address both psychological and environmental stressors will be critical in enhancing mental health care in crisis settings.

Background/ problem: Rapid digital transformation and cultural complexity demand that counselor education evolve to foster integrated competencies for online, multicultural, and technologically mediated practice. This is critical in Thailand's southern border provinces, where online counseling serves communities with distinct traditions amid limited access to mental health services. Despite this urgency, little is known about how counseling students cultivate cross-cultural, digital, and group counseling skills through real-world engagement.Objective/ purpose: This study aimed to explore and describe the lived experiences of graduate students in counseling psychology regarding the development of cross-cultural, online group, and digital counseling competencies through experiential learning during an online practicum.Design and Methodology: This qualitative phenomenological study involved 12 second-year graduate students, purposively selected to participate in online group counseling and supervision in Thailand's southern provinces. Data was collected one month after the practicum through semi-structured group interviews and online reflective surveys. Qualitative experts reviewed instruments, and data were analyzed using content analysis.Findings: Counselor identity development was a relational and transformative process rather than a linear acquisition of skills. Three themes emerged: (1) cross-cultural competence as a lived experience; (2) humanistic values as foundational to online group counseling; and (3) digital counseling competency as an emotionally attuned and ethically grounded practice.Conclusion and Implications: The study highlights the value of integrating virtual practicum, culturally responsive training, and digital ethics in counselor education and supervision. Embedding these elements can guide training programs, strengthen supervision, and inform policy to prepare future practitioners better to serve diverse populations with competence and integrity.

Adolescents are in a critical phase of personal and spiritual development, yet their increasing exposure to social media trends often creates challenges such as reduced self-awareness, weakened moral grounding, and decreased spiritual sensitivity. This research aims to explore the role of Guidance and Counseling (BK) services in enhancing adolescents’ spiritual awareness through the utilization of social media platforms. Employing a qualitative approach with the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method, the study synthesizes findings from various peer-reviewed articles published between 2015–2024 that address the intersection of counseling, spiritual growth, and digital media. The results reveal that BK services conducted through social media enable counselors to deliver spiritual education, foster reflective group discussions, and provide personalized online counseling while simultaneously disseminating inspirational content. These practices have been shown to promote adolescents’ ability to manage stress, recognize the impact of online behavior, and internalize spiritual values. The findings also emphasize the significance of BK teachers adopting holistic and psychologically grounded approaches in addressing spiritual challenges in digital contexts. The study concludes that integrating BK services with social media can effectively strengthen spiritual awareness among adolescents when supported by appropriate supervision and structured program design. This research contributes practical insights for educational institutions in optimizing digital platforms for character and spiritual development. Future research should focus on testing specific BK models that integrate spirituality and digital literacy across diverse educational settings.

BackgroundThe rapid digitalization of health and social services, particularly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to a widespread adoption of online counseling. While offering flexibility and improved access for clients, online counseling presents new challenges for counselors, including technical issues, difficulties in building therapeutic relationships, and changes in work organization. Despite growing reliance on digital counseling platforms, there is a lack of validated tools to assess specific occupational stressors associated with online counseling.ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop and evaluate the “QueStrOn” (Questionnaire to Assess Stressors in Online Counseling), an instrument designed to identify stressors and resources specific to online counseling and to explore its ability to predict perceived stress levels in counselors.MethodsItem development was guided by the Job Demands–Resources model, qualitative interviews with 22 counselors, expert input, and a literature review. A preliminary version of the questionnaire was pretested and then distributed via email and social media to counselors offering both online and face-to-face services. A total of 219 counselors completed the survey, and after applying inclusion criteria, 174 responses were analyzed. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted using principal axis factoring and varimax rotation. Internal consistency was assessed via Cronbach alpha (α). A linear regression model was used to initially test the predictive power of the identified factors with perceived digital stress as the dependent variable.ResultsThe exploratory factor analysis resulted in a four-factor solution with 16 items, capturing (1) Online Work Organization, (2) Online Framework, (3) Online Work Content, and (4) Online Communication. The overall instrument demonstrated high internal consistency (α=0.870), with acceptable values for factors (1), (3), and (4) (α=0.754, 0.745, and 0.826, respectively), although the factor “Online Framework” showed limited reliability (α=0.502). The regression model, adjusted for age and gender, significantly predicted perceived stress in online counseling (F5=13.335, P<.001), explaining 27.1% of the variance. Online Work Organization, Online Communication, and Online Framework were associated with lower perceived stress when rated positively, whereas Online Work Content showed an inverse relationship, potentially reflecting emotional distancing.ConclusionsThe QueStrOn instrument provides a valid first step toward systematically assessing occupational stressors in online counseling. Its 4-factor structure aligns with theoretical and empirical findings and offers practical utility for workplace risk assessments. Incorporating these dimensions into routine evaluations may support counselor well-being and inform digital health policy. Further validation and longitudinal studies are recommended to expand its applicability and explore associations with broader health outcomes.

Advances in technology have opened new pathways for supporting family well-being—from parental control applications and digital parenting programs to teletherapy and virtual family counseling platforms. This article analyzes current trends and evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions in strengthening family functioning and child outcomes, particularly under resource constraints. It examines smartphone apps for parenting skill-building, online psychotherapy and telehealth services, and virtual family therapy platforms that scaled rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with usage among family therapists rising from &lt;10% before the pandemic to &gt;80% during the pandemic. The review also considers the adoption of parental control and monitoring technologies and their impact on child safety and parent–child relationships. A comparative perspective with Kazakhstan highlights how digital initiatives—such as online psychological support portals and national telemedicine networks—extend services to remote or underserved areas. Key findings indicate that technology-enabled interventions improve access and achieve outcomes comparable to traditional services when issues of digital literacy and privacy are addressed. Nevertheless, effectiveness depends on human engagement, trust, and cultural relevance. Overall, integrating well-designed digital tools into family support and social work shows strong potential to enhance family resilience and child well-being, especially where resources are limited or in-person services are disrupted.

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health professionals were forced to find an appropriate way of working with patients that would ensure the continuity of therapy while considering the restrictions aimed at counteracting the spread of the virus. Online therapy has become an increasingly popular and common form of psychotherapeutic work. Emerging scientific studies have confirmed the positive effects of remote psychotherapeutic work. Nevertheless, modifying traditional and well-known forms of therapy or introducing completely new forms of remote therapy have been associated with several ethical concerns and challenges for psychotherapists.ObjectiveDue to the COVID-19 pandemic and the emerging epidemiological restrictions and recommendations, as well as new recommendations from psychotherapeutic associations, this study aimed to investigate the following: (1) Have psychotherapists experienced ethical dilemmas related to working online and face-to-face during the COVID-19 pandemic? (2) Was the occurrence of these dilemmas related to the therapists’ personal characteristics, such as age, sex, professional experience, or therapeutic approach? (3) What specific ethical dilemmas do psychotherapists point to in conducting online and face-to-face therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic?MethodsWe conducted an international study with 177 psychotherapists from 4 European countries (Sweden, Poland, Germany, and Portugal) using a web-based survey. The psychotherapeutic approaches represented in the sample were cognitive-behavioral, integrative, psychodynamic-psychoanalytic, systemic, existential and gestalt, and Ericksonian therapy, among others. An interview comprising closed and open questions was used to collect data on psychotherapists’ personal characteristics, professional functioning, and ethical dilemmas encountered during online and face-to-face therapy.ResultsEthical dilemmas related to online therapy were reported by 58.7% (104/177) of therapists, while dilemmas related to face-to-face therapy were reported by 61% (108/177). The study showed that these dilemmas were independent of the personal and professional characteristics of therapists. Dilemmas related to online therapy were concern about online therapy, the issue of privacy and confidentiality of sessions, the effectiveness of online therapy, the issue of limitations that may hinder clinical work, and concerns related to the broader systemic and institutional context. In contrast, for the face-to-face form, ethical dilemmas mainly concerned health and safety, limitations in communication and quality of relationships due to wearing masks, and technical and logistical limitations.ConclusionsThe issues considered here have not lost their relevance, because despite the lifting of restrictions related to the pandemic, some of the described dilemmas are similar to those related to coping with the risk and transmission of infection during face-to-face meetings. Moreover, the spread of online therapy means that the related ethical dilemmas are still relevant. The results indicate the direction of further consideration, the outcome of which should be specific ethical and legal guidelines that consider the concerns and dilemmas reported.

The development of information technology provides great opportunities for the world of education, especially in supporting Guidance and Counselling (BK) services. This study aims to examine the role of the Guidance and Counselling website in handling student disciplinary violations at the high school/vocational school level with a psychological approach. The method used in this study is descriptive qualitative with data collection techniques through interviews, observations, and documentation in several high schools/vocational schools that have implemented a website-based BK system. The results of the study indicate that the use of the BK website can increase the effectiveness of communication between BK teachers, students, and parents, as well as facilitate data collection and monitoring of violation cases. In addition, the psychological approach applied through features such as self-assessment, online counselling, and digital education has a positive impact on students' understanding of the consequences of their behaviour. Thus, the BK website not only functions as an administrative tool, but also as a preventive and rehabilitative media in handling student disciplinary violations. This study recommends the development of a more interactive and integrated digital BK system to support sustainable student character building

Technology is widely utilised as a learning tool in higher education, yet its adoption in counselling services within institutions remains limited. The growing use of online counselling is recognised internationally in providing mental health services. However, this mode of delivering mental health services is generally under-explored in South African universities. Research suggests that it is essential to determine the extent to which clients would be interested in using online counselling before implementing it. Therefore, this study investigates university students’ attitudes towards the use of online counselling services and explores the significance of age and gender differences in these attitudes. Data were gathered from students through self-administered questionnaires, with a total of 266 respondents (N = 266). The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings confirmed a generally mixed attitude towards online counselling, which was not significantly influenced by gender and age differences. Overall, the findings encourage a critical reflection on modern psychological practices in higher education institutions to better meet students’ needs. Contribution: This study explores the evolving digital landscape in higher education and its impact on student well-being, with a focus on information and communication technology-based counselling in the South African context. By examining students’ attitudes towards these digital interventions, the study contributes to ongoing discussions on the accessibility and effectiveness of mental health support in higher education. The study also acknowledges artificial intelligence’s potential to enhance accessibility, efficacy and ethicality in navigating mental health challenges.

Digital Mental Health Interventions (DHMIS) for Youth: A Systematic Review of Online Counselling Effectiveness