Dozens of AU students had mental health emergencies this fall: How does school respond?
As another semester winds down, Ashland University is reminding students that those in need of mental health services during the school year are able to get the help they need.
It was reported that during the fall semester, 14 students at Ashland University were hospitalized with a mental health emergency while 33 students experienced after hour non-emergency mental health incidents that didn't result in a hospitalization. Dr. Oscar McKnight, Associate Dean of Students and Director of Psychological Counseling Service at Ashland University, spoke to the Ashland Times-Gazette about the services that the university now offers to students on campus and beyond.
Healthy Minds 2022-2023 data report reveals the role that mental health has on college students
According to the Healthy Minds 2022-2023 data report, students experienced various mental health crisis, including major and moderate depression (41%), anxiety (26%), eating disorder (14%), and non-suicidal self-injury (29%). Suicide ideation over the past year was 14% and lifetime diagnoses of mental disorders was at 46%.
The participants of the study also revealed in the a four-week period, 22% felt emotional or mental difficulties hurt their academic performances. The study also showed that 21% of participants strongly agreed that they knew where to go to access resources from their college. However, most participants would turn to family members (41%) instead of faculty member/professor (6%) or staff member (3%) for mental or emotional support.
When it came to using the services at their schools, the participants stated there were numerous factors, including financial reasons (21%), difficulty finding available appointment (11%), not enough time (24%), preferring to deal with the issues on their own (21%).
Of the participants, 54% were female, 41% were male, and 4% were other.
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What mental health services does Ashland University provide to students?
According to the Ashland University website, counseling services are now available through the university's Psychological Counseling Services. The staff provides personal counseling to traditional, full-time students. The service are also designed to help students achieve their goals both on and off campus. Mostly importantly, all counseling and testing services are free to students as well as unlimited. This means a student can receive services as long as necessary.
McKnight said that the Ashland University Psychological Counseling Service provides wrap around services, which is an extended treatment plan from a hospitalization to university services. Among the services students can receive are addressing personal mental health concerns such as coping with anxiety and stress; building self-confidence; managing depression; and dealing with obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. Grief counseling is also available.
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Other services include accelerated learning (balancing test anxiety), developing health habits (managing stress and time), establishing healthy interpersonal relationships (focus on communication skills and address roommate conflicts), planning for the future (life coaching and career testing). The Ashland University Psychological Counseling Services also has emotional wellness resources.
McKnight also stated that most of the time there isn't a waiting list and the services provide services on an average of 36 students a week. He said that if someone calls or walks in needing services, they will be seen. Students entering as freshmen are able to register before the start of the academic year so they can receive services early on in the year without any scheduling issues. The service is available both in person and via teleconference.
McKnight is one of three licensed counselors available through the Ashland University Psychological Counseling Services. There is also a nurse practitioner and registered nurse who are licensed in mental health. The services usually has one to four counseling interns who can see patients.
McKnight also said that thanks to a recent federal grant the Ashland University Psychological Counseling Services is able to hire a case manager in the graduate program who will provide counseling services as well. They will also be doing intakes, wrap arounds, and other services. The case manager is set to start in January 2024.
The Ashland University Psychological Counseling Services is currently only available throughout the academic year, and is closed during the summer.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland University offers free mental health services to all students
