Are Colleges Prepared To Support The Mental Health Of Their Students This Fall?
College students participating in a group mental health session. getty  Morgan State University president David Wilson is excited about fully reopening the university in the fall, but is concerned about the mental health and emotional well-being of his students as they return to campus given all of the pain they have endured during the pandemic and amidst the racial unrest in the country. He has even appointed a re-socialization and re-acculturation committee to assist with the rebuilding of community at the historically Black university in Baltimore, Maryland. The committee is made up of a wide cross section of campus constituents. He said, We are making some serious investments in our counseling center to be prepared to minister to these challenges. It is what keeps me up at night.  According to a recent survey, 83% of college students think that Covid-19 and the resulting mental health issues they face have had a negative impact on their college education. Students report having a hard time concentrating and finding it difficult to complete assignments on time or at all. These academic difficulties may be linked to students feeling hopeless and being unable to sleep. Students also noted that not seeing friends, lack of interaction with classmates, lack of participation in school traditions, and too much time in front of a computer screen had them feeling isolated. For 18-24 year old students, all of these stressors are happening before their brains are fully developed and matured. According to a study by Nicholas Grubic, Shaylea Badovinac, and Amer Johri in the International Journal of Social Psychiatry, students also fear uncertainty as a result of Covid-19. Students are afraid for their health and that of their loved ones, about the economic impact of the pandemic, and the impact of being socially isolated. Students are having a difficult time envisioning their future. Campus sign at Morgan State University, which makes it clear that Black lives have always mattered ... [+] at the HBCU. Morgan State University  For African American students, in particular, the increase in hate crimes, police brutality, and racist outbursts have resulted in another layer of stress, fear, and depression. As Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), such as Morgan State University, have a long history of providing nurturing, hands-on, family-like support to students regardless of the size of the institution, being highly attentive to students mental health needs is directly tied to their institutional mission as well as their commitment to Black lives. According to Sarah Ketchen Lipson, a Boston University researcher studying mental health, there is a bright spot amidst the increase in mental health issues. Her survey, mentioned above, of nearly 33,000 college students shows that students are becoming more comfortable talking about their mental health, more likely to seek help during a personal mental health crisis, and are less likely to stigmatize other students for admitting to having mental health issues. 94 percent of students say they wouldnt judge someone for seeking out help for mental health. Ben Locke, executive director of the Center for Collegiate Mental Health and Laura Horne, chief program officer at Active Minds  both leaders of large-reaching mental health organizations  agree with Lipson, noting that students are more likely to call a telehealth number or start seeing a therapist rather than assuming they can make it on their own to avoid stigma. Across the nation, colleges and universities are looking for ways to support students mental health as they come back to college in the fall. Some institutions are increasing offerings in their counseling centers. Some are embedding wellbeing practices in courses (e.g., mental health check-ins at the start of class). Others are adding more outdoor recreational options, and encouraging students to enjoy the natural aspects of campuses and to foster togetherness while maintaining social distancing. Still others are ensuring that everyone on campus is fully aware of all of the available resources to counter stress and making use of these resources as a normal part of college life. Overall, advocates for students and students themselves are asking for honesty and transparency from leaders around mental health, the pandemic, and the racial climate on campus in the nation. They want campus leaders to know that operating with a pre-pandemic mindset around issues of mental health  believing that these services are just for a few on college campuses  is shortsighted and even dangerous.