The Counselling Centre of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi has strengthened its capacity to support students by training staff in mental health care and emergency response. At its annual training workshop, 11 counsellors, three administrators and two medical officers from the University Hospital took part in a four-day programme designed to prepare them for the 2025/26 academic year.
Deputy Director of the Directorate of Student Affairs for Housing and Welfare, Prof. Amos Abanyie, underscored the importance of reflection in professional practice. He noted that the workshop provided a rare opportunity for staff to step away from their daily routines and critically assess how effectively they were meeting the needs of students. Prof. Abanyie stressed that in an era where mental health challenges are rising among young people, counsellors must constantly evaluate their methods, embrace innovation and find practical ways to improve the support they provide on campus.
Head of the Counselling Centre, Mrs. Victoria De-Graft Adjei, commended staff for their commitment during the 2024/25 academic year despite the increasing demands of student support services. She shared the Centre’s vision for the upcoming year, pointing to a stronger emphasis on collaboration across departments and faculties. Mrs. Victoria De-Graft Adjei also announced a reshuffle of college counsellors, explaining that the change was in line with university policy to broaden staff exposure and strengthen their effectiveness in new environments. She urged staff to view the reshuffle not as a disruption but as an opportunity to deepen their skills and expand their impact across the university community.
The workshop also featured a presentation on the Resilient Minds Project, a mental health initiative run in partnership with Johnson & Johnson. Project consultant, Mr. Leroy Nii Okanta Ankrah, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the programme, highlighting its success in improving access to mental health interventions for students. He revealed that the project will not only continue into the 2025/26 academic year but will also expand to address additional areas such as stress management, resilience training and peer-support systems. According to him, Johnson & Johnson views its partnership with KNUST as a model for how corporate institutions can play a meaningful role in strengthening mental health services in higher education.
Counsellors also received Basic Life Support training, including CPR, led by Dr. Avotri Irene and Mr. Elvis Asiamah from the University Hospital. Both facilitators emphasized that counselling professionals are often the first point of contact for students in distress and, in some cases, those experiencing health emergencies. They explained that acquiring life-saving skills ensures that counsellors are better prepared to respond quickly and effectively while waiting for medical teams.