Talking Stick - March/April 2009 - 34

g The S WIDeNIN a f eT y N eT “The only way to solve the problem is to target all the audiences that might influence them,” she advises. In order to do this, communication practices must adjust to the changing environment of mental health and must consider a wide variety of team players. I n the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy, privacy policies, particularly the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), are being reinterpreted, and communication among higher education staff and faculty about mental health issues is more imperative than ever. Recognizing the need for clear communication among the staff and faculty who interact with students, professionals from a number of different departments have formed teams to address the issue of mental health care, a development reported by 76 percent of counseling center directors responding to the survey. One such team is the newly formed Preemptive Assessment Team at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. The team consists of representatives from student affairs, residential life, and student health and counseling. Staff and faculty can now submit concerns and information in a document called “Distressed Students,” and the team meets regularly to review the reports. “We meet once a week, and anyone who has hit the radar is discussed at that time,” says Carol Boucher, assistant dean of student affairs. “This is the trend now on campuses.” Similarly, Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, recently implemented a Behavioral Assessment Team, consisting of the dean of students, the dean of student services, Staff the director of university residences, the university police, and the director of counseling and psychological services – along with the institution’s attorney, who can field questions about policy violations and liability. “We meet on a monthly basis to look for a common link,” explains Barb Frazee, executive director of university residences. “This allows us to respond specifically to mental health issues and understand what everyone’s role is in that regard. We walk away a little bit smarter.” In an attempt to raise awareness about students’ mental health, the Jed Foundation addresses students, parents, and campus professionals on its Web site. The campus professionals section of the site includes a number of resources, ranging from legal information and models for developing policies to popular Webinars on taking the next step. “We’re trying to put a portfolio of resources and tools out there so they have what they need to address the problems,” Knowles says. ULifeline, a resource center included on the site, creates mental health Web sites for colleges and universities free of charge. Knowles believes that mental health should be a top priority for all schools: “A big reason people drop out is related to mental health, and campuses want to retain their students. Campuses are communities, and emotional health is extremely important for communities. Anything that happens to one person affects a lot of people.” ReSouRceS on the Web To view the 2008 National Survey of Counseling Center Directors, visit www.iacsinc.org. To learn more about the University of Minnesota University Parent Program, visit www.parent.umn.edu. To learn more about the Purdue University Parent Advisory Program, visit www.housing.purdue.edu/ HTML/FAMURPAC.htm. To learn more about the Jed Foundation, visit www.jedfoundation.org. 3 Talking STick

http://www.iacsinc.org http://www.parent.umn.edu http://www.housing.purdue.edu/HTML/FAMURPAC.htm http://www.housing.purdue.edu/HTML/FAMURPAC.htm http://www.jedfoundation.org

Talking Stick - March/April 2009

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