Members of the Jogorku Kenesh, Baktybek Sydykov and Gulsharkan Kultaeva, have proposed to ban the advertising of psychological services by individuals who do not have a higher education degree in the field. The corresponding amendments to the advertising law have been put up for public discussion.
According to the rationale, in the last decade, there has been a significant increase in the number of natural and man-made disasters, as well as an increase in negative social phenomena, including psychological problems, for which people seek solutions through psychological services.
However, they often receive unprofessional help from individuals who do not have the necessary education in psychology.
"Kyrgyzstan citizens have also been increasingly turning to psychologists, including services such as gestalt therapy, hypnotherapy, psycho-functional unblocking, and other newly introduced psychological services that can directly impact a person's psyche, both positively and negatively," the document states.
Psychological assistance differs from psychiatric help as it is not part of the medical field. Therefore, to practice professionally, a psychologist only needs to have a relevant education, not a medical qualification.
"However, there is currently a trend towards an increase in the number of individuals providing psychological services such as courses, training, and consultations without the necessary professional training. As a result, the market for psychological services is oversaturated with a large number of incompetent specialists," believe the authors of the bill.
In their opinion, individuals offering such services often advertise on social networks, where teenagers and young people most frequently come across these unqualified specialists and avail of their services without requesting proof of their qualifications.
"It should also be noted that Article 20, Part 2 of the Law 'On the Protection of Citizens' Health in the Kyrgyz Republic' dated January 12, 2024, No. 14, states that the accreditation of individuals and legal entities, regardless of ownership, engaged in medical activities, is carried out to improve the quality of medical care as determined by the cabinet of ministers. Providing the services of a psychologist, conducting various types of psychological therapeutic treatments, are also considered medical services. For this reason, to prevent irreversible consequences such as harm to the psychological and mental health of individuals seeking services from unqualified psychologists, it is proposed to amend the Advertising Law," emphasizes the rationale.
