India’s Campus Mental Health Crisis: One University’s Attempt at a New Narrative
The Fall 2021 Mary Christie Quarterly features an article on Ashoka University’s pioneering practices to create a new narrative on student mental health in India. The school’s Centre for Wellbeing supports college students in their transition to, and experiences at, university through an appropriate cultural lens. “In India, cultural, class, and institutional resource dynamics strongly affect how open communities are in acknowledging mental health; and in embracing methods of addressing problems,” said Dr. Arvinder Singh, the founding Executive Director of the Centre.
Mental and Behavioral Health
Main Stories
The Chronicle reports on campus mental health counselors experiencing burnout and a shortage of staff due to high demand for services related to the pandemic. According to the Healthy Minds Network’s spring survey, more students have screened positive for anxiety and depression after this past year. Colleges and universities are reporting all-time high levels of student demand for counseling appointments. For example, Fordham University reports that the number of students’ clinical appointments rose 42% last fall, and Wichita State University reported an 18% increase in new clients since the fall of 2019. Bureaucratic barriers have also caused issues for providers, as students moved back to their home states and counselors navigated state-licensing requirements.
NPR’s Public Health News publicizes the ways colleges are working towards preventing suicide contagion. A developing area of research called “suicide postvention” is focused on effective methods that can be implemented in communities after a suicide has occurred in order to limit the risk of suicide clusters. For every single suicide, 135 people are subsequently affected, according to the Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab at the University of Kentucky. Experts state that universities should deploy a “postvention” plan following a student’s suicide. Interventions include properly communicating the news to the campus community, providing mental health resources, and having guidelines on memorials and funerals.
Other News
NPR News features an article on the mental toll of activism for environmentalists amidst worsening climate change. The article states that while environmental worries can be motivating for activists, they can also be overwhelming.
WTOP News interviews mental health experts on when procrastination becomes a matter of mental health and why college students may be more prone to it. The article also outlines signs of when procrastination may be a deeper issue related to mental health.
Boston 25 News broadcasts the increasing interest among young people to study behavioral health. Colleges around the Boston area are reporting higher enrollment numbers in mental health specialties.
Marquette Wire, the student newspaper of Marquette University announces a new men’s discussion group at the university as part of its reporting on mental health awareness month. The group challenges students to question the norms of masculinity and discuss issues related to male mental health.
Rutgers University receives increased state funding to expand student mental health services. To accommodate students’ needs, the wellness center is offering daily walk-in hours and faculty and staff have been trained to recognize when a student is in distress and in need of help.
In an op-ed for the GW Hatchet, student Riley Goodfellow argues that George Washington University should bolster mental health resources. “The brief and free option is a step in the right direction, but the short-term counseling is often not enough for young adults, and since outside therapy is not covered by GW, students may face exorbitant charges,” states Goodfellow.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Inside Higher Ed reports findings from a new study showing that college enrollment for Latinx Californian students is growing, however students often lack the support needed. The report, conducted by the Campaign for College Opportunity, found that 87% of Latinx 19-year-olds graduated highschool in comparison to 73% ten years ago. However, the data revealed that equity gaps are still prevalent, especially for Latinx men experiencing demands to financially support their families. The report recommends hiring more Latinx faculty and boosting enrollment rates for Latinx students at UC campuses.
Howard University’s longest protest officially comes to an end after students and administrators come to agreement regarding housing conditions and board representation of students. Other historically black colleges and universities celebrated following the 33-day protest involving students occupying the Armour J. Blackburn University Student Center. As part of the protest, The Live Movement, an organization that raises awareness of issues at Howard, posted videos of flooded dorm rooms, releasing a statement that they hope for better housing conditions and accountability at all HBCUs.
Higher Ed Dive reports that the Nebraska State College system has approved transgender protections despite conservative criticism. In a 4-2 vote on Thursday, the institution’s board voted that employees can assert a gender identity other than sex assigned at birth and use their chosen names. Conservative politicians criticized the policy. The board approved an additional policy that adds definitions for different kinds of discrimination based on age, race, and disability.
The Washington Post reports on the plummet of international student enrollment in the United States due to the pandemic. The number of students studying abroad in the United States has been steadily increasing for over 70 years but dropped by 15 percentage points last year. According to the Open Doors report from the Institute of International Education, the number of first-time international students dropped by over 45% in the fall of 2020. Barriers related to the pandemic include visa restrictions, travel bans, and health concerns. The article did note that colleges are anticipating that international enrollment will grow next fall with an expected 68% increase in new international students.
Student Success
Inside Higher Ed provides an outline on the dos and don’ts for matching students to mentors, following the Inside Higher Ed/College Point survey which recommended the practice. “Do’s” include: offering opportunities for students to connect with peers or alumni; striving for a wide range of career fields when determining possible mentors; and allowing students to select or request their own mentors in formal programs. The “Don’t” list includes: not pairing students with untrained mentors, not forgetting that peer mentors may become overwhelmed and need support, and not neglecting mentor program promotion.
The Chronicle covers the question of how community colleges can rebuild after the disproportionate impact the pandemic has placed on its students. Often serving low-income communities and people of color, community colleges have faced the steepest drop in enrollment and the fallout of social inequities compounded by the pandemic and its effects on the economy. Leaders at Southwest Tennessee Community College are working to reach out to students and provide resources to re-enroll.
The Hechinger Report features a surprising number of new colleges emerging amidst falling enrollment rates and widespread closures and/or mergers. Some schools are creating initiatives which include independent experiments and extensions from existing universities and colleges. New institutions are also targeting certain fields, such as technology and alternative energy, while other new programs offer online credentials and degrees with greater flexibility.
College Affordability
In an op-ed for The Hechinger Report, Kathleen Murray, the president of Whitman College in Washington, argues that in order to help students afford college, institutions must be more transparent about financial aid. A new program initiative established by Whitman in 2019 provides a preview to families of their financial aid package. “Providing this service takes institutional willpower and resources, but schools like Whitman are well-positioned to pull it off in part because of our small size — we aren’t inundated with as many applications as larger schools. We are confident enough in our financial aid awards to lead with this figure without fear of losing applicants,” said Murray.
Higher Education Leadership
In an op-ed for Higher Ed Dive, professors Judith Wilde and James Finkelstein examine changes in the ways college presidents are hired. In a three-part series of articles, they outline new shifts indicating that the length of presidential tenure is shortening, more presidential searches are failing, and more presidents are leaving their positions before completing their first terms, indicating reforms to the process are needed.
Coronavirus: Safety and Reopening
A recent study by Virginia Commonwealth university researchers reveals the kinds of communication strategies that can convince students to prioritize social distancing and the health of others. The findings can be helpful for colleges and universities looking to mitigate the risk of Coronavirus transmission and outbreaks on their campuses. Public health campaigns surrounding social distancing measures that include messaging on saving others’ lives instead of merely invoking fear were suggested. “Just the presence of the threat is not sufficient. … Even when we’re quote-unquote done with COVID, I don’t think we’re going to be done with concepts like social distancing,” said Jeanine Guidry, the study’s lead author.
