Mental Health Services Overview and Update

1. Mental Health Services Overview and Update Betsy Sheldon Presentation at DSPS New Director’s Training California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office September 12, 2011 Sacramento, CA

2. Presentation Overview • Data – mental health in higher ed & DSPS • The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) and the Chancellor’s Office • Activities to date • Advisory Committee • Study on mental health • Funding and partner opportunities • Ideas and models • What a few other CCCs are doing • Resources

3. College Students and Mental Health American College Health Assessment HSACCC CCC Consortium (2010)* • 57% of students felt very sad, 50% very lonely • 34 % of surveyed students reported feeling so depressed at times that they had trouble functioning • 25% of students identify stress and 12-14 % identify depression or anxiety disorder as factors that effect academic performance • 8 % considered suicide; 2.6% attempted suicide Jed Foundation (2005) • The second leading cause of death for college students is suicide • Most of the students who commit suicide were not in mental health treatment at the time * Representing 14 CCCs and 11,000 students

4. Mental Health Study • Gail Conrad from San Diego CCD completed a study on the CCC mental health system CCC students • Based on the National Survey of Counseling Center Directors (NSCCD) – study done on 4 year colleges and universities for 28 years • Four questions: • What supports and services were students with psychological disabilities receiving on the California Community College campus? • Were services for students with psychological disabilities in California Community Colleges comparable to services for students with psychological disabilities in the four-year institutions in the United States? • What services did administrators, faculty or staff think were needed on the college campus to support students with psychological disabilities? • What recommendations for practice should be implemented by the California Community College campuses in order to provide effective mental health services?

5. Some Findings: • CCC are seeing more students with more severe psychological problems and more often already on medications for these problems • The majority of the colleges revealed that they were dealing with student hospitalizations; about 25% with suicides • While only 17% of the colleges participated in Depression Screening days, they culminated in an average of 57% of those students screened being referred for treatment • Many campuses are developing and implementing behavior or crisis prevention and intervention teams • Dissertation is available – contact me or Gail for a copy • Presented @ CAPED 2010

6. Some information about students with psychiatric disabilities • Students with psychiatric disabilities increasingly pursue higher education • Advances in medication, empowerment movements, federal protections contribute to increased number • Barriers to accessing and completing college remain • Side effects from medication • Cyclical nature of disease – may result in needing to take time off from school • Gaps in service provision • Stigma – still remains a significant barrier to seeking services • Examples of accommodations: extra test time, water in class, proctored/quiet place J Postsecondary Education and Disability Vol. 21, No. 2; 2008, pp 91-103

7. DSPS Data – by disability type

8. Student Veterans – Emerging Population on CCC campuses • Eighteen percent (18%) of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have PTSD or depression • Nineteen percent (19%) experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) while they were deployed • Suicide rates of veterans who have left the military has increased 26% from 2005-2007 (ages 18-29) • The invisible nature of these conditions means that they are often ignored or have a delay in onset, often resulting in service members not being identified as needing treatment. • Barriers to veterans seeking services also exist because many fear that confidentiality will be breached and career prospects threatened if they disclose mental health issues or seek services. • It is estimated that 26,000 returning veterans are using their GI bill education benefits at California community colleges.

9. The Mental Health Services Act and The Chancellor’s Office (before 2011) • The Mental Health Services Act (aka MHSA, and Proposition 63) was passed by voters in November 2004 • Primarily a local county implementation process • Plans are developed locally under direction of the county mental health office and submitted to the State Dept of MH for approval and funding • State level partnerships exist with 14 state agencies including the Chancellor’s Office CCCCO MOU with DMH to fund specialist position (me!) and support mental health activities

10. Activities To Date (past two years) • Advisory Committee developed • Membership includes representatives from the colleges, HSACCC, MHWA, CSSOs, CAPED, county mental health, EOPs, statewide mental health organizations (NAMI, CA Network, REMHDCO), the student and academic senate, veteran’s agencies and family advocates • Quarterly meetings – 5 meetings to date – last was June 2011 • Initial website developed – still a work in progress • List serve – sending out information about trainings, webinars (thanks to HTCTU) – also post to HSACCC, DSPS directors and counseling list serve • Presentations, updates, and outreach – COAGC; FYSI webinar with county mental health • Participation on state efforts to advocate for, and monitor, efforts to support student mental health (JPA, MH Services Committee, MHSA partners forum) • Connect with counterparts in UCOP and CSU system • Grant funding to support faculty training on PTSD, TBI, depression (Zellerbach Family Foundation and more recently CalMHSA) • Pilot project opportunities (Kognito and Interactive Suicide Prevention Project ) and webinars

11. Zellerbach Family Foundation grant • Purpose: increase awareness of the mental health issues and needs of transition age student veterans to faculty and staff through a pilot project at three California community colleges (CSM, De Anza, CCSF) • The training was developed to provide faculty and staff with information and knowledge so they could better respond to issues that emerge in the classroom and on campus, and information on where to refer them for services on campus and in the community. • Resource materials were developed to assist faculty and staff in supporting these students on campus. Many faculty who are teaching veteran students may not be aware of the symptoms of PTSD, depression, or TBI.

12. ZFF Training overview • Two day trainings at each campus= 6 trainings total • 225 participants • Four hours: topics included military cultural competence, PTSD, TBI, MSV and other transition challenges specific to student vets; • Panel of student vets from each campus • Resources developed specific to each campus • Status: CO asked to submit another proposal, pending notification on outcome

13. California Community CollegesStudent Mental Health Program grant • The student mental health initiative RFA released 2/28/11 • Sole source application for CCC, CSU, UC • $6.9 for each of CA’s systems of higher ed • Workgroup of CCC stakeholders identified at 1/28/11 meeting of the CCC MHSAC • February 28, 2011 - RFA released • Funding entity - the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), a JPA of county mental health directors • April 2011 – proposal submitted by CO and Foundation • June 2011 - Funding approved by CalMHSA’s Board • Grant term is 8/1/11 – 6/30/14 • CO and FCCC have been negotiating scope of work with CalMHSA staff since July 2011

14. Changes/Emerging Issues • AB 100 and Governor’ Budget – reducing state government • Departments of Mental Health and Alcohol and Drug Programs eliminated 2012 • MHSA administrative funds reduced – meant only 6 state agencies receive funding to support implementation (Chancellor’s Office is one)

15. Some ideas/models/approaches to explore… • HSACCC and MHWA – engage with statewide organizations for training, information, support – drive in meetings in the Fall; annual conference March 2012 • Community partners – county mental health, NAMI • Active Minds – stigma reduction efforts (RCC is doing this and Mt San Jacinto – participating in the Send Silence Packing Tour • Gatekeeper training for staff, faculty – QPR (Foothill College); Kognito – several campuses doing this • Crisis Prevention Teams (West Valley, Santa Rosa JC, others) • Supported education/supported employment - CSM

16. What other CCCs are doing • Assisting The Emotionally Distressed Student is a publication from West Valley College developed for administrators, faculty, and staff • Crisis intervention Teams – several campuses use this model (recently list serve dialogue about this) • Resource Guide for Serving Students with Psychological Disabilities in California Community Colleges was developed in 1991 as joint project between the Yosemite Community College District and the Chancellor’s Office, DSPS (already on webpage) • Mental Health Education Consortium at Los Angeles City College is a partnership between LACC and Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. Among the many resources available at this website is the document, Mental Illness: It Shouldn't Drive You Crazy!

17. Resources • Chancellor’s Office Web page • www.cccco.edu/mentalhealth • List serve on mental health – directions on web site • Other resources • Mental Health Services Act/MHSOAC • www.dmh.ca.gov (list serves) • click on Prop. 63 tab

18. Questions? Contact Information: Betsy Sheldon bsheldon@cccco.edu or (916)322-4004 Thank you for your time and attention!