President Linda Thompson shared the University’s plans to address mental health in a column published in the Dec. 23, 2021, issue of The Republican. The text from the guest editorial follows below.
The lyrics to the carol “Silver Bells,” famously sung by Bing Crosby, paint a happy picture of the holiday season: “Children laughing, people passing, meeting smile after smile ….” While this rings true, what should be acknowledged is that it can also be a stressful time of year for many individuals, especially young adults.
In K-12 schools and on college and university campuses across the country, our children and young adults are stressed and run down for myriad reasons. The effect these challenges have had on their mental health is, to quote U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, “devastating.”
Earlier this month, Surgeon General Murthy released his findings on the state of mental health of youth in the United States. His report, “Protecting Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory,” issued an urgent call to address the youth mental health crisis, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic.
The Surgeon General recognizes what the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Westfield State University know to be true: that mental health cannot be treated separately from our overall health, and that we need society-wide solutions so that everyone can access affordable, high-quality, culturally competent care. At Westfield State, we prioritize promoting the health and wellbeing of our students, and the full campus community.
The theme for the first year of my presidency is, “Building Our Bridge to the Future: Restoring Our Health.” When we think of health, I encourage us to consider our own physical, mental, and emotional health and that of others with whom we interact on campus, in our greater community, and via social media. The mental health and wellbeing of our students is essential for their being able to thrive in society.
While there was a 50 percent drop in requests for University counseling services during the 2020–21 academic year (at the height of the pandemic and when our classes were primarily held remotely), this fall semester—with classes being held in-person and residential housing and campus life returning to more normal operations—we’ve experienced a tripling of scheduled appointments from fall 2019 (pre-pandemic).
As anxiety continues to be the highest concern of Westfield State students, according to our Counseling Center, the University’s Relaxation Coaching (RC) program is devoted to anxiety reduction; RC offers an individualized, one-on-one session with trained coaches who present mindfulness-based anxiety reduction and grounding skills. Coaches help students create goals to use the skills they find most helpful.
Another method we employ to help students ease their anxiety is through pet therapy. Sponsored by Westfield State’s Counseling Center, pet therapy helps students relax and recharge with their furry friends in a hands-on, unique way. The popular program started in 2007 as a novelty during finals week, and it quickly grew to sessions held twice a month during the academic year. We welcome approximately 10–15 dogs to each session. There are many different breeds, young and old; the abundant number of dogs enables students to get their much-needed quality time with them. Approximately 125 students may show up at any time during the two hours. Some say they attend because they miss their dogs at home; others note that the dogs help them unravel after a day of hard work and studying. Studies have shown that pet therapy has significant benefits for people experiencing stressful and demanding circumstances.
The U.S. Surgeon General names underrepresented populations as those at higher risk for mental health challenges. Some ways that Westfield State addresses this risk are listed below.
- To support Westfield State’s students of color, the University has hired an intercultural counselor who counsels in Spanish, as needed, and provides support to student affinity groups.
- At Westfield State, counseling services staff have also taken some of the formality out of counseling by offering drop-in hours outside the Counseling Center. The hours are offered closer to where some of our students of color spend time to encourage skeptical individuals to try it. Both measures increase accessibility.
- The Counseling Center has enhanced its communication efforts to better support students of color and the LGBTQ+ community through our Instagram posts via the handle @ReachoutWSU.
While we provide workshops and training on a variety of issues, we also partner with faculty through our Faculty Liaison Program. We identify faculty (ideally at least one from every department) and train them on the signs of mental health problems, how to intervene, and to know which resources are available for referral. Since QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) was mentioned in the Surgeon General’s report, it is notable that Westfield State has for years been providing QPR training (suicide prevention training geared toward the non-mental health professional).
Although we provide programs and services to address mental health issues of our students year-round, we also raise awareness on the topic, particularly in the spring semester, as an attempt to lessen any unfavorable stigma associated with mental health and encouraging those students who need services, to take advantage of those offered on campus.
In April 2022, the University will hold its 7th annual “Fresh Check Day” to promote mental health, wellness, and prevention of student suicide. Students learn more about ways to care for their mental health and find out where they can go for help. Fresh Check Day is the signature program of the Jordan Porco Foundation, a national charity dedicated to inspiring hope, preventing suicide, and promoting mental health in teenagers and college-age students.
We are far from fixing the challenges to this important public health issue, but we know that as a campus community we play an important role in promoting the health and wellbeing of young adults. Without individual engagement, no amount of energy or resources can overcome the biggest barrier to mental health care—the stigma associated with seeking help. Please join Westfield State in weakening this stigma so we can better protect, strengthen, and support the health and safety of children, adolescents, and young adults.
On behalf of Westfield State University, I wish you and your families and friends a healthy and enjoyable holiday season.
Linda Thompson, DrPH, MPH, RN, FAAN, is president of Westfield State University.