RE: Working for the seal of approval

Thank you for bringing attention to the growing issue of mental health on college campuses. Unfortunately, your editorial ultimately fails to serve students by neglecting to consider the multitude of services already working to address this issue.

To begin, Counseling and Psychological Services is not so “naïve” to think, as you state, that the two free visits offered to students will solve everything. Cost can be an easy excuse to not seek help and serves as a convenient barrier when students are already reluctant due to a perceived stigma or belief they can manage the problem themselves.

Therefore, it’s helpful knowing or saying, “it’s not going to cost, so go talk to them.” Often, those visits are enough to help resolve a personal issue. By enabling such access, it becomes more than just a marketing gimmick, as implied.

Many times, one to two visits aren’t enough. CAPS has long recognized that more students are enrolling with significant emotional problems. As a result, clinical staffing has increased considerably these past several years despite budgetary reductions and freezes.

Recently, CAPS added three counselors with more planned. Further, our medical staff and CAPS closely collaborate ensuring students visiting our medical clinics with underlying mental health issues are more quickly identified and referred to CAPS for treatment.  

We have also increased our campus programming to address related issues such as substance abuse, problem eating/exercise, body image and stress. These programs closely collaborate with others on campus and in the community. The Health Center and CAPS have poured tremendous effort and resources into doing more than just “merely subsidizing the symptoms” of mental illness.  

Jed Foundation does many positive things to bring awareness to these issues. However, paying for additional “seals of approval” when CAPS already meets the highest level of the rigorous standards of three well-respected accrediting bodies seems a poor use of student funds.

Improving the emotional health of students takes an ongoing, collaborative effort by students, faculty, staff, administrators and campus organizations. All are needed to enhance clinical staffing, campus programming and awareness, and the necessary financial support.

­— pgrogg@indiana.edu