Telecounselling

An initiative by St. John College of Health Sciences to improve access to psychosocial support, particularly for survivors of natural disasters.

CONTINENT

Africa

COUNTRY

MALAWI

Location

Mzuzu

Health Focus

Mental Health

Website

https://sjog.mw/college-of-health-sciences/

Founding year

2020

Organizational structure

Non Governmental Organization (St John College of Health Sciences)

Actors involved

Mental Health Professionals, NGOs

Programme Focus

Service Delivery, Digital Technology

Health System Focus

Information

The St. John of God College of Health Sciences introduced telecounselling to revolutionise healthcare by leveraging digital platforms to establish resilient health systems and enhance access to mental health and psychosocial support in Malawi. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the college used telecounselling services to reach people amidst limitations in person-to-person contact. In 2023, they used the innovation to help people go through the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which hit Malawi in March that year.

Currently, this innovation has potential to help people affected by climate change-induced disasters, particularly farmers and agricultural workers.