University Business - July 2008 - (Page 40)

C A M P U S H E A LT H universal models to their own student body. Take the University of The increase in depression and anxiety among college students Michigan, which gathers longitudinal data about its students via stems from several factors. Today, more students arrive on campus an annual mental health survey. During the initial survey in 2004, with diagnosable disorders, including not just depression and anxi- counselors learned that international students were less likely to ety but substance abuse and others. Treatment for mental illness seek help for mental health issues. Over the following two years, has improved substantially, so students who might not have made the center formed liaisons with the international center on campus it to college in the past are enrolling in larger numbers. In fact, and targeted that population. The strategy worked. The next survey showed that nearly 20 perapproximately 25 percent of students who visit campus counseling cent of international students sought help for mental health probcenters present with psychiatric prescriptions. Matriculation is not always a smooth transition for students lems, compared to less than 10 percent initially. “We would not have with diagnosable disorders, says Joseph Scardapone, director of the taken that approach without the data from the survey,” says Sevig. Mount Marty College employs a diﬀerent approach. The small, Community Services Center at Hofstra University (N.Y.). College often removes or reduces the support structures that help students rural school of approximately 1,100 students tends to attract kids who may need some hand holding, says McGlone, so counseling with mental illness through high school. Other students ﬁnd it diﬃcult to adjust to campus life. Millen- staﬀ focus on prevention and awareness. The three-day freshman nials tend to possess fewer coping strategies and need more mental orientation includes a healthy dose of mental health workshops focused on signs and symptoms health support than previous genof depression, drug and alcoerations, says Megan McGlone, Mental health marketing extravaganzas hol awareness, and sources for director of student counseling at at the University of Michigan not only help. Additional mental health Mount Marty College (S.D.). help identify students in need workshops continue through the of assistance, but they also teach students school year. Mental Health Models Leaders at many institutions, There is no magic bullet approach how to identify peers in trouble. like Mount Marty and Hartwick, to curing campus depression and anxiety, but there are some common characteristics of sound pro- convene weekly case meetings to discuss individual students who grams. The passive approach of the past—involving distributing have been identiﬁed as needing help. The team—which includes pamphlets and oﬀering phone consults for troubled students—has counselors, student safety and residential life staﬀ, campus ministry been replaced with a proactive model that engages faculty, staﬀ, staﬀ, and others—meets to discuss at-risk students. Whoever has and students in awareness, prevention, and identiﬁcation. New the strongest relationship with the student approaches him or her tools include websites, online surveys, and sophisticated market- to check in and make a referral to counseling if necessary. ing campaigns. Adding resources and increasing counseling staﬀ is part of the Online, On the Phone, and Across Campus solution, says John Guthman, director of counseling services at As counselors strive to identify and help depressed students, they Hofstra. Increased funding, however, is not a solution in itself. are taking the tools of their trade on the road and online. Rensselaer “Schools need to ask how they can best allocate funding to oﬀers web-based surveys that students can complete anonymously help their students,” states Todd Sevig, director of counseling and without visiting the counseling center. “It gives them a quick score psychological services at the University of Michigan. For example, to see if they may need further help,” says Anderson. when Michigan students requested an interactive mental health Hartwick College publicizes an anonymous hotline that any website as part of the Michigan Healthy Community Initiative, campus member can call to report non-emergency academic, stress, Sevig’s department complied. “We knew the website, a cross be- or personal concerns. The counseling center director follows up on tween Facebook and WebMD, would reach thousands of students,” all mental health calls, usually by bringing the student’s name to the explains Sevig. An additional counselor might not reach the same weekly case conference. number of students. Because depression tends to peak in October, Mount Marty holds But sometimes hiring is in order. Rensselaer, for example, re- a Depression Screening Day, with counselors providing a quick ascently added a new counselor to bring its full-time counseling staﬀ sessment to any interested member of the campus community. Elto four. The school redeﬁned the position, however, with the new- evated scores are discussed on the spot, and most at-risk students est counselor spending half her time away from her desk, conduct- make an appointment at the counseling center for follow-up. ing outreach programming in residence halls, fraternities, and soThe University of Michigan counseling team hosts several mental rorities and planning events such as National Depression Screening health marketing extravaganzas annually. Students are lured in with Day (sponsored by Mental Health America). free T-shirts and hats, and staﬀ try to engage them by asking ﬁve Rensselaer also has plans to hire a full-time psychiatrist. Simi- questions about mental health topics. The programs not only help larly, Hartwick added a psychiatric nurse practitioner to its staﬀ. identify students who may need counseling services, but they also Psychiatric specialists can handle the more complex cases that are teach students how to identify peers in trouble. The programs usubecoming increasingly common and thus free counselors and nurs- ally generate a bang and reach up to 1,500 students in two days. es for other health needs. Another characteristic of the new era is community involveAlthough macro trends are clear, institutional leaders must adapt ment. Campus counseling centers see only a small fraction of the New Students, New Challenges 40 | July 2008 universitybusiness.com http://universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - July 2008

University Business - July 2008
Contents
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Editor's Note
Behind the News
Viewpoint
Money Matters
Financial Aid
Human Resources
Students in Need, Schools at the Ready
Security Officers Speak Out
Advancement Goes Digital
A New Day for NASFAA
Sustainable Admissions
What's New
End Note

University Business - July 2008