Mental and Behavioral Health
The Chronicle reports on Stanford University’s new mental health policy stemming from the settlement of a class-action suit regarding the school’s mental-health leave-of-absence policies. Hailed as a model by legal and medical specialists and mental-health advocacy groups, the policy includes a new requirement that offers students two business days to reverse their decision to agree to a voluntary leave. Another requirement is that involuntary leave be treated as a last resort after discussion of reasonable accommodations, which could include reducing courseloads or changing dorm rooms. Stanford will provide staff members with training on mental health and the new leave policies.
As a part of a larger effort to improve resources for the Mental Health & Counseling department on campus, the Yale College Council announced several changes to the system, including walk-in hours, reduced wait times, and a spotlight on non-medical counseling resources across campus. The YCC has advocated for these changes for the past year, beginning with the 2019 release of a mental health report based on survey results and focus groups with students. “For many, many years students have been asking for substantial improvements to Mental Health & Counseling at Yale,” YCC president Kahlil Greene ’21 said. “I hope that these changes will make Mental Health & Counseling more accessible and effective for the students that seek to utilize their services. This is the beginning of a larger process of bettering Yale’s ability to cater to students.”
At a University of Chicago roundtable discussion entitled “The Politics of Mental Health,” held by Leaders of Color at the Institute of Politics, students explored how mental health stigma and common misunderstandings perpetuate mental illness, globally and on campus. The discussion explored the rhetoric and development of self-care as well as nuances of mental health, including identity, ability, stigma and the economic consumption of self-care. According to the Chicago Maroon, students at the roundtable also expressed frustrations with what they see as the University’s inadequate treatment of mental illness on campus. One student said he felt that, at the University, “there’s a tension between seeing someone as an individual capable of reason and someone struggling with mental health.” He said the rigor of UChicago and its work culture can exacerbate mental illness for students and lead to stigma.
In an effort to help manage student mental health, researchers at Texas A&M University are developing a wearable monitoring tool that uses advanced machine learning and the sensors on commercial smartwatches to detect signs and symptoms of high anxiety. The devices will also direct wearers to resources and will integrate with in-person and virtual counseling sessions. The aim of the pilot program is to bring mental health care to students as they experience anxiety or depression, and provide on-demand or proactive access to virtual and in-person counseling.
A bill, recently introduced in New York, will ensure that SUNY and CUNY campuses maintain a ratio of at least one certified mental health professional to every 1,000 students. Additionally, it will prevent this from being funded through new student fees.
The Daily Campus reported that the University of Connecticut President Thomas Katsouleas announced in a campus-wide email that the university has made a number of mental health-related improvements including: hiring more full-time clinical positions, and performing an assessment of mental health at UConn in the hope of changing the culture surrounding mental health on campus. The University will participate in the Healthy Minds Study to assess students’ attitudes, behaviors and awareness of mental health issues on campus. “It is important to note that the student mental health crisis is not a challenge that colleges and universities can simply hire our way out of,” Katsouleas said. “Equally important is the culture we must create around mental health and well-being on our campuses.”
According to the GW Hatchet, counselors in George Washington University’s Colonial Health Center are helping students track mental health progress and learn more about their condition through the WellTrack app. The app includes functions like a mood tracker, informational video modules and a meditation feature. Saray Smalls, the senior health promotion and education program associate for the health center, said the app is primarily designed for students with “low-level” stress, anxiety and depression and should not be a substitute for more intensive mental health treatment. “What’s cool about WellTrack is it can be a part of step care and it can also operate beyond step care,” Smalls said. “It can be something that students access on their own without needing to do a walk in consultation.”
The University of Virginia Student Council passed SR20-06, “A Resolution in Support of Mental Wellness and Resiliency Courses In Engagements,” which recommends that a mental wellness requirement be added to the university’s curriculum.
KTVZ reported that, approaching the close of a 17-year tenure as Oregon State University’s president, Edward J. Ray called on the federal government, the state of Oregon and its citizens to help address college students’ mental health and basic needs and reduce the tuition burden students and their families pay for college. In his annual State of the University address, Ray called for greater access and affordability for all students to enjoy the benefits of college.
The Chronicle highlights the rising popularity of teletherapy on college campuses. According to the article, the rise of stepped-care models has softened wariness towards teletherapy. Companies offering mental health care through chat, voice, and video are entering the increasingly competitive market, providing self-help modules or live-streamed therapists, for one-time crisis consultation or regular treatment. However, some experts remain skeptical of the new innovations. Joshua Altman, associate director of the Student Counseling Center at Adelphi University said he is contacted weekly by teletherapy vendors but has so far resisted them, as he is waiting for solid evidence that it works.
The Detroit Free Press took an in-depth look at college athletics and mental health in Michigan, finding a wide disparity in how athletic departments at colleges throughout the state handle mental health issues. According to the Free Press, athletic administrators at several schools admitted they fear they aren’t doing enough. Some colleges have an extensive support network – the University of Michigan has a staff of seven mental health experts who work exclusively with its athletes. But other schools barely have any resources. Most small schools send athletes to on-campus counseling, which, according to the Free Press is not ideal. Many counselors don’t understand the unique challenges facing athletes, and it can be difficult for athletes to get an appointment to see a counselor or schedule regular sessions because of long wait lists and complicated athletic schedules. Stigma remains a barrier in some athletic communities.
At last week’s University of Minnesota Board of Regents meeting, President Joan Gabel discussed her ongoing initiative to address student mental health. Still in its early stages, the initiative aims to review and highlight the University’s current mental health resources for students and establish where improvement can be made. “Student mental health is a critical topic,” Gabel said at the meeting. “This attribute affects our students’ ability to progress, to achieve and, in the worst case, is a question of life or death.” Regent Mike Kenyanya said at the meeting, “Student groups … are doing a lot of work around this, so I would just advocate for finding ways to support that,” noting that peers can often be best suited for helping one another.
The DMAX Club at Penn State is an extension of the DMAX Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to starting conversations about the mental health of young people. Recently, the club launched a new social media campaign at Penn State and has gained significant interest and involvement. The Penn State DMAX Club currently organizes therapy dog sessions, documentary viewings about mental health, and destressing events. As the club grows in membership, DMAX will create peer support groups.