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This article discusses the current state of mental health and well-being among college students, explores possible factors involved, and highlights available programs and services. It also emphasizes the need for a comprehensive, community-wide approach to address these issues.
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Student Mental Health and Well-BeingOctober 2018Paul Dupont, Ph.D.Counseling DirectorUniversity Counseling Services of Norris Health Center
Overview • Current mental health and well-being of our students • Possible factors involved • Available programs and services • What can we do? • Q and A
*Received a lower grade on an exam or important project; Received an incomplete or dropped the course;Significant disruption in thesis, dissertation, research or practicum work .
University Counseling Services Data • Students seeking University Counseling Services have consistently reported significantly more histories of: • previous MH treatment • previous psychotropic medication use • history of self harm • UCS clients also indicate significantly lower levels of functioning at intake
Why the High Prevalence? • Possible factors • Increase societal stress levels • Increased pressure on youth and college students • Increased financial pressures for many • Anxiety about job prospects with increased debt • Reduced/undeveloped coping skills • Increased comfort/openness in reporting ud ud
Stressed Climate on Campuses • More distressed students • More stressed staff and faculty? • Budget cuts • Higher expectations of parents • More demands and expectations of students • Fear of violence
Fewer and Less Effective Coping Skills • Decreased self soothing • Decreased frustration tolerance • Decreased tolerance of strong uncomfortable emotional states • Anxiety=something is wrong (with me) • Problems establishing and utilizing social support • Not able to socially connect or reach out for help
Disability, Mental Illness, Situational Stressors and Skills Deficits • The mental health picture on campuses is a combination of a number of different, sometimes interrelated, processes/factors • Further research is needed to clarify the picture of campus MH • Decisions on campuses, including policies, interventions and treatment types needs to clarify the "student" they are attempting to assist • Can programs/interventions designed to assist be counterproductive?
A Comprehensive, Public Health, Environmental Approach for Student Well-being • These issues that have significant impact on students, but also on academics and functioning • Individual level interventions are critical; such as counseling, medication, health services, sexual violence advocacy services • However, these are complex, interconnected issues that cannot be addressed in isolation and require comprehensive environmental approaches, such as: • Significant cooperation and collaboration among campus entities to change the campus environment • Major ongoing time and energy commitment to make progress
Effective Solutions Require a Community Effort Cornell University’s Campus‐Wide Approach to Student Mental Health Timothy C. Marchell, PhD, MPH Director of Mental Health Initiatives Gregory T. Eells, PhD Director of Counseling & Psychological Services From 2011 Campus Mental Health Task Force Cabinet Presentation and Recommendation for Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Mental Health
UWM Resources • Physical Well-Being • Norris Health Center (Norris building) • Norris Health Promotion and Wellness (NWQ 5th floor) • Rec Sports and Fitness Classes (Klotche) • Human Resources classes • UWM Food Center and Pantry
Mental Health and Mixed Resources • University Counseling Services (NWQ 5th floor) • Psychology Department Clinic (Pearse Hall) • Norris HPW Victim Advocacy (NWQ 5th floor) • Norris HPW MH Outreach (NWQ 5th floor) • Norris HPW AODA (NWQ 5th floor) • Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on MH
Mental Health and Mixed Resources (cont.) • uwm.edu/mentalhealth • Students Support Team and CARE Team (uwm.edu/reportit) • FEI EAP for permanent staff and faculty(feieap.com- password SOWI) • Other advisory committees and workgroups
Beyond traditional treatment, what can we do? • Make sure fac/staff are aware of these student problems and of resources available to support student success • Utilize existing trainings, as needed • Foster a campus culture of: • Responsiveness to student needs as well as that of fac/staff through: • Discussion with willing students re these issues not only appropriate but encouraged (uwm.edu/mentalhealth video) • Course timelines/due dates/other requirements allow for flexibility • Responsiveness that is appropriate to student needs and distress level • Not forgetting the grad students/online students • Regular conversations on the topic • Engagement with existing campus groups • Promote fac/staff use of resources, as needed and as appropriate
Conclusions and Next Steps • There are more students coming to UWM, and currently here, reporting emotional distress and mental health problems • Some of these are serious in nature • Some require skills enhancement and improved coping • These issues impact academic success of our students • There are complex, interconnected issues that require collaborative comprehensive strategies for prevention and intervention.
