Professor Bagiyarova F.A. from KazNMU participated in discussions on regulating psychological services in Kazakhstan
On February 20, 2025, an extended meeting of the Committee on Socio-Cultural Development of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held on the topic «Psychology as a Profession and Science in Kazakhstan: Problems and Solutions.» The discussion was attended by deputies, representatives of government agencies, and leading experts in the field of psychology.
As an expert in the initiative group, Professor of the «Communication Skills» Department (SGM-1) at KazNMU named after S.D. Asfendiyarov, Fatima Bagiyarova, took part in the meeting. It is important to note that the initiative group, established by the Women’s Wing Priority of the AMANAT Party, has been actively working in this direction for over a year. The main goal of the initiative movement, according to its head, Zarema Shaukenova, is to bring order to the field of psychological services and education. Over this period, the issue has been thoroughly studied, data has been collected, and discussions have been held—a series of activities aimed at developing proposals for regulating psychological services in the Republic of Kazakhstan, considering modern requirements and challenges.
The extended session of the Mazhilis of the Parliament is a result of the initiative group’s work, where all data on the current state of psychological services and education were presented, along with concrete proposals.
The Chairman of the Committee, Deputy Askhat Aimagambetov, noted that the development of digital technologies and social networks has led to an increase in emotional stress on the population, requiring a systematic approach to psychological well-being. However, Kazakhstan still lacks comprehensive scientific research in this area, and legal regulation remains fragmented.
Deputy Aina Musralimova provided statistics indicating that more than 300,000 people (approximately 1.5% of the country’s population) are registered in mental health centers. Meanwhile, Altynay Eskaliyeva, General Director of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Mental Health, spoke about the development of a modernization program for the mental health service.
Vice Minister of Education, Yedil Ospan, reported that 20 psychological support centers have already been opened in Kazakhstan. However, there remains a severe shortage of qualified specialists. In response, educational programs for training psychologists have been revised to align with modern requirements.
Professor Fatima Bagiyarova expressed the opinion shared by many psychology experts:
«The private sector of psychological services must be regulated by the state in collaboration with globally recognized psychological schools and associations such as Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, Psychodrama, Symbol Drama, Psychoanalysis, CBT, and others. This regulation could significantly impact the activities of pseudo-psychologists, who discredit the image and profession of psychology.»
The next step will be the creation of a working group to develop a draft law regulating key aspects of psychologists’ work in Kazakhstan. Among the priority areas are:
- Development of standards for psychological education.
- Regulation of norms for psychological assistance.
- Increasing qualification requirements for specialists.
- Establishing a certification system and professional registry for psychologists.
- Introducing mandatory membership in professional associations.
According to experts, an important step in the development of the field will be the modernization of general psychiatry services, updating clinical protocols, and strengthening interdepartmental cooperation. Special attention will also be given to information hygiene and psychological education for the population.
After hearing the reports, the deputies discussed potential solutions to the identified problems. In particular, they addressed issues related to the accessibility of psychological services, increasing salaries for specialists, improving the quality of medical services, and the social rehabilitation of citizens with mental disorders.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Askhat Aimagambetov emphasized that work on the draft law will continue within the working group format. In the near future, specific proposals will be prepared to introduce systematic changes to the field of psychological services in Kazakhstan.
The Kazakh National Medical University named after S.D. Asfendiyarov continues to actively participate in healthcare and education system reforms, contributing to the development of scientific and practical foundations for psychological assistance in the country.
