Whether it’s related directly
to the pandemic or not, mental health experts at Southeast Community College
say in the past two years, there’s an increased need in counseling services at
all three campuses and the learning centers.
Kalika Jantzen is the director
of the Counseling Assistance Program for Students. She said the last two
semesters in particular have seen the most increase in referrals for some kind
of mental health service, where on- and off-campus services are already
limited.
“The
CAPS requests for immediate/crisis response across all SCC locations has also
increased,” she said. “Each day, when the CAPS office doors are open, students
are coming as walk-ins, needing a place to talk, cry or work things out that
feel overwhelming. SCC Lincoln has broken ground for residence life, and
the on-campus need for students to have a welcoming supportive place will only
continue to grow!”
According to a recent survey on
BestColleges.com, 95% of college students have experienced negative mental
health symptoms as a result of COVID-19. Almost half (48%) believe the mental
health effects have directly affected their education and reported feeling more
isolated and lonelier. Additionally, 40% slept less, 39% worked out less and
ate worse, and close to one-third (32%) experienced feelings of hopelessness.
At SCC, Jantzen
notes that students have experienced significant strains in the following
areas: interpersonal relationships; housing, food, employment, financial and
transportation, anxiety; increased isolation and decreased connectivity;
decreased productivity in school/work; and increases in overall stress
resulting in consequences to their well-being.
One bright spot is in addition to this
increased need for services, there also is an increased growth in those who
want to help these students and the communities that SCC serves. Jantzen said
each campus has its own Campus Assessment Response Evaluation team, which
consists of staff and faculty who help provide supportive case management
services to help meet students’ on- and off-campus needs.
“There
are many things that anyone at SCC can do to help students and the communities
of SCC,” Jantzen said. “Get involved, find a training or information to learn
more about student care, check in with students and offer
support by simply listening. Counseling and mental health needs still face stigma. Take a step
to change that and offer to have conversations with people in your communities
about counseling as a helpful addition to aid in a variety of personal needs.”
Jantzen added she is hopeful
that additional staffing for CAPS at SCC can help provide more accessible
services to aid in students’ psychological resiliency goals.
For
more information, CAPS at SCC can be reached at caps@southeast.edu or on the website at https://www.southeast.edu/caps/