Exploring Mental Health Challenges and Counseling Needs in an Open University Context: A Case Study of Open University Malaysia (OUM)

This study investigates mental health challenges and the role of counseling services at Open University Malaysia (OUM), focusing on the distinct needs of students and staff in an open university environment. Using a qualitative phenomenological method, 23 participants, including undergraduate students, master’s students, administrative staff, and academic staff, were selected for semi-structured focus group interviews. Thematic Analysis was employed to analyze the data. The study reveals that students’ counseling needs fall into three main areas: navigating academic demands, career development, and personal challenges. Meanwhile, the counseling needs of academic and administrative staff are centered on academic workload, communication, and administrative demands. Students identified two primary factors affecting their mental health: challenges related to Online Distance Learning (ODL) and personal issues. Academic and administrative staff pointed to four key factors: academic management, student management, academic workload, and the work environment. To improve counseling services, participants suggested three key areas: proactive mental health awareness campaigns, enhanced service accessibility, and dedicated counseling services for staff. These findings emphasize the necessity for specialized mental health support in open universities to effectively meet the specific challenges faced by students and staff, ensuring a more supportive learning and working environment at OUM.