Increasing access to mental health services key to student, staff well-being | Guestview

The issue of mental health on college campuses has become a national conversation, and for good reason. We know that individuals aged 18 to 25 are at a high risk for mental illness, substance abuse and suicide. The need for mental health services for college students became even greater with the COVID-19 pandemic. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and an important time to shed light on this topic.

Mental health on college campuses is a vital part of student services. Research has shown that students seeking university counseling services are more likely to maintain and improve their academic performance and persist to graduation. UWF’s Counseling and Psychological Services has adapted to meet the evolving needs of our students. Three years ago, Counseling and Psychological Services was a traditional counseling center that provided in-person psychotherapy. When the university needed to offer more remote services in 2020 in order to serve students, Counseling and Psychological Services staff quickly invested their time in learning how to provide effective teletherapy.

A recent partnership with a company called Togetherall provides online peer support. This program is a great fit for our students who do not need crisis counseling, but who also do not want to wait for a therapy session in order to express their concerns and ask for support. Students can post supportive comments for each other online. Universities in several other countries participate in the program, which allows for students to hear back from people with many diverse points of view. In addition, UWF offers a telehealth platform called Therapy Assistance Online, which provides self-help modules that can be used by students as an adjunct to therapy.

Students are clear with us that they desire and need a wide array of services. Interim Vice President of Academic Engagement and Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Greg Tomso’s staff members tell me that the stigmatization of seeking mental health help is decreasing among UWF students.

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“Along with virtual counseling appointments with our licensed providers, these new platforms not only helped during our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but have charted new pathways for helping students connect to a broader array of mental health services,” Tomso said. “We've also added new nighttime and weekend hours for telecounseling. While remaining committed to our traditional, in-person therapy and crisis-support services, we are now more adept at meeting students' needs and being available when they need us most."

Employees, too, want a job with a positive work culture that can support and encourage their overall wellness. Mental wellness, emotional wellness, social wellness, and physical wellness all matter. That’s where UWF’s Employee Assistance Program comes into play. The Employee Assistance Program helps employees resolve personal and work problems. We know that offering this program is paying off, because the utilization rate of our Employee Assistance Program is above the national average. UWF has a contract with Aetna Resources for Living. Employees are able to access professional assistance over the phone or through Aetna's website which provides information on the services available and helpful articles.

“Our EAP program not only supports emotional and psychological needs, but also supports other personal challenges such as marital, financial, dependent, and elder care issues,” said Lynne Randall, Human Resources employee relations coordinator. “It's a great way to start discussions on the multifaceted balance necessary for managing our mental health."

UWF’s Department of Human Resources continues to collaborate with HealthierU! to provide wellness activities for employees throughout the year and our recreational offerings promote good wellness habits within our campus community. A popular event in the HealthierU! Program is the Step Challenge, which invites in-person and remote employees to form teams and battle for the most steps taken daily. The competition is healthy, mentally and physically.

Not to be overlooked is the calming effect of UWF’s beautiful 1,600-acre campus. We know that a relationship with nature is a critical factor in supporting good mental health. On our campus, we have plentiful places to walk, decompress and just enjoy the moment. Here, we can tune in and connect with what matters — every day.

Martha D. Saunders is president of the University of West Florida.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: UWF mental health service: Access key to improving student, staff health