Do Not Wait Until Students Are in Crisis Before Acting, PSIMA Says

Malaysia should not wait until students reach a crisis before the education system responds, the Malaysian Psychological Association, or PSIMA, said.

The association supports expanding access to qualified psychologists in schools while retaining the important role of counselors. It said the two professions should complement one another, not compete. Counselors provide guidance, emotional support, early detection, and referrals, while psychologists can add psychological assessment, case formulation, and evidence-based intervention for more complex cases.

PSIMA proposed introducing psychologists in phases. The services could involve placing psychologists in schools or creating district-level group services, with priority given to areas with larger student populations and greater needs. It also called for clear referral pathways linking schools, counselors, psychologists, parents, health clinics, hospitals, and child and adolescent psychiatric services.

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We cannot wait until a student is in crisis before the system acts.

The association backed the development of a National School Psychology and Mental Health Framework. It said the framework should set clear standards for staffing, screening, referrals, intervention, confidentiality, crisis management, and cooperation between the education and health sectors.

PSIMA president Associate Professor Dr. Shazli Ezzat Ghazali said strengthening psychological services in education would support student safety and well-being, human-capital development, and Malaysia’s future.

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The education system needs to move from a reactive approach to one that prioritizes prevention, early detection, professional intervention, and follow-up.