Figure 1. All participants of the FFUI Counselor Lecturer Training activity.
Depok, July 15, 2026 – The Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Indonesia (FFUI) held a Counselor Lecturer Training on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Building A of the Health Sciences Cluster (RIK) at the University of Indonesia. The event, attended by all FFUI lecturers, is part of the faculty's efforts to strengthen the student mentoring system by increasing the capacity of lecturers as the frontline in providing academic and psychological support to students.
Kicking off the event, the Vice Dean for Education, Research, and Student Affairs of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Indonesia, Dr. apt. Santi Purna Sari, M.Si., emphasized that lecturers have an increasingly important role in assisting students in facing various challenges during their education. According to her, in addition to carrying out academic functions, lecturers are also expected to be able to provide a sense of security and help students gain access to appropriate services when facing problems.
Figure 2. Dr. apt. Santi Purna Sari, M.Si., Deputy Dean for Education, Research, and Student Affairs, FFUI.
"Students face various challenges not only related to academics, but also to mental health, social relationships, and the adaptation process. Through this training, we hope that FFUI lecturers will have the understanding and basic skills to provide appropriate initial support, while also understanding the limitations of a lecturer's role and when students need to be referred to professionals. In this way, we can work together to build a safer, more inclusive learning environment that supports student success," said Dr. Santi.
The training featured Dr. Sugiarti, M.Kes., Psychologist, a psychologist from the Faculty of Psychology, University of Indonesia, as a resource person. In her presentation, Dr. Sugiarti explained that lecturers are often the first to notice changes in students' behavior or conditions. Therefore, lecturers need to have basic skills to recognize signs of students needing help, establish empathetic communication, and provide initial support before students receive further treatment from professionals.
Figure 3. Presentation by Dr. Sugiarti, M.Kes. Psychologist.
The training materials covered various issues frequently faced by students, ranging from reporting mechanisms for ethical violations and sexual violence, to mental health challenges, and the dynamics of development during young adulthood. The speakers explained that during this phase, students often face issues related to interpersonal relationships, academic pressure, and the process of developing independence. Therefore, counselors are expected to create a safe space for students to discuss the issues they face.
One of the main topics presented was Psychological First Aid (PFA). Dr. Sugiarti explained that PFA is an initial approach that can be implemented by anyone who has received training, including lecturers, to provide support to individuals experiencing psychological distress. The main principles of PFA include the ability to listen actively, create a sense of safety, and provide an empathetic response without judgment. Participants were also encouraged to understand the difference between distress and eustress, as well as how to help students manage stress more adaptively.
The training also discussed strategies for handling high-risk students, including those with suicidal ideation or tendencies. The speakers emphasized that student safety must be a top priority, requiring lecturers to understand the indicators of an emergency and promptly refer students to a psychologist or other authorized mental health professional. For non-crisis situations, lecturers were encouraged to act as empathetic listeners and help students identify alternative solutions and available resources.
Figure 4. Counseling simulation session.
As part of the training, participants participated in a counseling role-play simulation session. Through this exercise, lecturers had the opportunity to practice empathetic communication techniques, active listening, and help students find solutions based on their potential without providing judgmental guidance. This simulation provided participants with practical experience in dealing with various situations they might encounter while serving as a counselor in an academic setting.
Through this Counselor Lecturer Training, FFUI continues to demonstrate its commitment to building a learning ecosystem that is not only oriented towards academic excellence but also pays attention to students' psychological well-being. By increasing the capacity of lecturers to provide initial mentoring, it is hoped that student services at FFUI will become more responsive to student needs and able to create a healthy, inclusive learning environment that supports students' overall development.