Guidance and Counselling Services and the Psychosocial Well-Being of Displaced Women in Conflict-Affected Local Government Areas of Katsina State, Nigeria

This study examined the influence of guidance and counselling services on the psychosocial well-being of displaced women in selected conflict-affected local government areas of Katsina State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to identify the types of counselling services available, assess their level of utilization, determine their impact on psychosocial well-being, and highlight challenges and strategies for strengthening interventions. The target population comprised displaced women in Batsari, Safana, Jibia, and Faskari LGAs, with a sample of 200 women selected using purposive and stratified random sampling techniques. The study adopted descriptive survey design, utilizing a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that only about 40% of displaced women accessed counselling services, while the majority (60%) faced barriers such as limited awareness, distance, and cultural stigma. Those who accessed counselling reported improvements in coping skills (70%), self-esteem (68%), social relationships (65%), and reductions in anxiety (60%) and depression (55%). However, the study also found that inadequate professional counsellors, poor infrastructural support, and limited integration of psychosocial services into humanitarian responses hindered effective service delivery. The study recommended that government agencies, NGOs, and humanitarian organizations should strengthen the provision of professional counselling services in displacement camps and host communities, train more counsellors with cultural sensitivity, increase awareness campaigns to reduce stigma, and integrate psychosocial support into all relief interventions.