Exploring career counselling interventions in South African educational contexts – implications for mental health promotion: a systematic review

Abstract

This study involved a systematic review to explore the existing literature on career counselling interventions within secondary and tertiary educational institutions in South Africa, with specific focus on identifying implications for mental health promotion. Historically, career counselling was accessible by white males, resulting in a lack of effective career guidance being provided to other demographics. Despite the strides made in the field post-Apartheid, career counselling interventions are still not being implemented optimally. This study comprised a systematic review to identify (1) what is known from the literature about career counselling interventions in educational contexts? and (2) what are the implications for mental health promotion? Guided by the PRISMA framework, the study identified eleven studies across The University of Pretoria Repository, ResearchGate, Taylor&Francis, and EBSCOHost. Following data extraction, thematic analysis was employed. The key themes identified included the necessity for interventions to incorporate postmodern approaches such as narrative career counselling, career-construction, and career life-design, the importance of adapting interventions to be both culturally and socioeconomically relevant, and the challenges to effective implementation due to resource constraints and inadequately trained practitioners. Additionally, the study highlights the consequences of ineffective career services, including increased anxiety levels, inclination to dropout of studies, and increased failure rates. The study provides further insight into how effective career counselling interventions can have a significant positive impact on mental health promotion, through fostering resilience and adaptability, reducing anxiety and career-related stress, and helping young people develop their sense of self - protective factors which can be supportive in navigating the transition University or the workforce. The findings of this systematic review promote the importance of advocating for systemic improvements to career counselling within educational settings, so that young people receive the relevant guidance and support to foster appropriate career development, employability, and overall mental health and wellbeing.