As the pandemic raged on throughout 2020, a plan was already in the works to better serve students' mental health.
It was executed at the right time.
After recognizing the need to continue focusing on mental health efforts as a university and stepping up its services, the thought process shifted to thinking critically about how best to offer support services and resources to the student population. Another priority became educating faculty, staff, and the entire campus community on how students can access those resources.
In 2019, Vice President for Student Affairs Lamar Hylton charged a university-wide steering committee led by Julie Volcheck, Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs and Director of University Health Services, and Manfred Van Dulmen, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Division of Graduate Studies. They took a deep look at enhancing and expanding mental health services, seeing what was currently offered, and finding ways to fill any gaps.
A closer look unveiled some real issues.
What followed was a mental health visioning group providing recommendations through a white paper regarding students' mental health needs. From the Fall 2014 semester until December of 2020, there has been a backlog each semester at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). While CAPS would take the winter or summer breaks to get current, the waitlist would fill again by March in the spring and October in the fall.
Taléa R. Drummer-Ferrell, Ph.D., Dean of Students, leads the Advocacy, Support, and Well-Being pillar within the Division of Student Affairs.
"Admittedly, before I even came over to the division and I was working in athletics or the student multicultural center, I remember the narrative being 'it is November, and I can't get in until February', and that's scary," said Drummer-Ferrell. "Now, there are ways to manage emergencies, but you never know what general support will be until you get to that place."
Another valuable asset for students from the focus group was a basic needs center; more importantly, a space where students can help find resources to support their basic needs. In addition, other significant factors have led to an enhanced approach to the mental health of students and the services offered.
The finishing touch came when the Division of Student Affairs underwent a realignment in the summer of 2020 to be more intentional to enable more resources.
"We have done a lot of things to get to this place, including my pillar within the division going from a student engagement focus to advocacy, support, and well-being," said Drummer-Ferrell. "So now you have ɫҹ of Well-Being, the CARES Center, and CAPS in my pillar [and] not to mention Student Relationship Violence Support Services (SRVSS), Student Conduct, Recreation Services, Ice Arena. Now, all of these things are coordinated in one space, along with me managing students in crisis.”
Since then, a plethora of options have become available to students, depending on the need. Students can head to the rec center to have a group fitness class to get the adrenaline going while being a part of a community. CAPS can assist with individual counseling or the after-hours line and provide groups that lend themselves to building community when it comes to a particular topic.
Another place in which students can turn is the DeWeese Health Center. Not only does it serves as a wonderful resource to helping address mental health and well-being, but it also provides support and advocacy to students who may need it.
Students can also connect with ɫҹ of Well-Being and participate in meditation, along with other offerings, including information about a free 60-day fitness app trial if students wish to work out from home and try things out before they get back in the fall. Currently, a website is being developed that can be a one-stop shop to provide information about where to go when help is needed.
As part of the Student Health Visioning, newly expanded resources and services offered at CAPS have afforded the opportunity to hire eight new positions, including Coordinators for Training, Group Services, Assessment and Evaluation, and Outreach, along with four Mental Health Service providers.
"I am very excited to see the expansion and enhancements happening," said Hylton. "Both clinical and non-clinical and also excited about what is next in terms of phase two and how that would strengthen even more our commitment to student mental health and well-being."
With the CARES Center established and now poised and prepared to answer questions for students and help direct them as that is part of their work, the future is bright when putting students' mental health in the driver's seat.
"I am excited [and] amazed at how it has all come together, and because I have a bird's eye view to behind the scenes of making that work happen, it makes me appreciate even more the outcome," said Hylton. "I believe our students will find greater value in having those support services connected to their overall experience."
Drummer-Ferrell agreed.
"This is a phenomenal example of Flashes taking care of Flashes."
For more information regarding Counseling and Psychological Services, please visit /caps
For more information regarding the CARES Center, please visit /CARESCenter
For more information regarding the Office of the Dean of Students, please visit /studentaffairs/dean