Counseling and Psychological Services and Shaw Wellness Institute comprehensively care for students’ well-being.
As it is, college can be stressful for students, let alone when there’s a pandemic. Colgate’s Counseling and Psychological Services and the Shaw Wellness Institute work hand-in-hand to care for students’ mental health needs and increase awareness of
the valuable resources available to students.
Approximately half of all Colgate students will visit Counseling and Psychological Services in Conant House during their time on campus. “There’s no longer as much of a stigma about seeking mental health services,” says Director Dawn LaFrance. In the 2019–2020 academic year, the center welcomed 659 clients through its door, evenly divided between new and returning clients.
One third of the center’s 3,600-plus appointments last academic year were for group therapy sessions. In any given week, the center offers up to 13 groups that address such topics as grief and loss, gender identity, and stress and anxiety management. “Research indicates that many of the concerns that students come in for, especially stress and anxiety, can be treated more effectively in group therapy,” LaFrance says. “In the group setting, they realize they’re not alone in experiencing these things; they don’t need to be ashamed. While they do get the advice of a trained counselor, it’s equally important that they hear what their peers are doing to manage these shared concerns.”
Students request individual therapy sessions for a variety of reasons. Many are one-time meetings to resolve a current issue, such as a family conflict. Other clients receive ongoing counseling for depression and other diagnoses. A psychiatrist and nurse practitioner consult with students on their medications. For students struggling with eating disorders, a multidisciplinary team offers support.
For sexual violence survivors, Haven resource center is available to provide confidential care. And for all students, the counseling center’s 24/7 crisis service is available to help no matter the time of day.
While most clients are self-referred, others may be referred by students or faculty and staff members. The center’s new Mental Health Advisory Board (MHAB) is implementing the Red Folder program, a resource guide first implemented at Stanford University and designed to help faculty and staff identify, respond to, and refer students in distress. “It provides guidance on how to respond to different scenarios,” explains Najla Hrustanović, a mental health counselor and leader of the multidisciplinary MHAB. “It also lists resources beyond the counseling and wellness centers that students can connect to for social support. We know that if a student can develop a better sense of belonging, it correlates with better mental health.”
That goal resonates with Katie Griffes, director of the Shaw Wellness Institute, which takes a holistic approach of connecting the mind, body, and spirit. “Our mission is to help students live their healthiest life and have the best student experience that they can at Colgate,” Griffes says.
For example, the institute’s Nutrition and Body Wellness Coalition promotes self-care and self-acceptance. “It’s about being healthy and accepting of yourself and your body,” Griffes explains. The institute also offers free confidential counseling for alcohol and other substances and runs the Bystander sexual assault prevention workshops for all first-year students.
Griffes is especially excited about the institute’s YOU@Colgate, a new personalized, online wellness self-assessment that connects participants with relevant resources both on campus and beyond. “For example, if a student responds, ‘I want to learn more about fitness,’ YOU@Colgate will link them to the health and recreation website and its calendar of fitness classes,” Griffes explains.
Both Shaw Wellness Institute and Counseling and Psychological Services transitioned their offerings online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Griffes and staff members created videos for the institute’s YouTube channel about how to handle feelings of isolation, the challenges of studying while at home, and how to practice self-care. LaFrance and colleagues provided individual telehealth consultations as well as scheduled and drop-in group therapy sessions via Zoom. “It has been a smooth transition,” LaFrance says. “The students have really appreciated that we’re still available for them.”