Community Colleges Face Mounting Mental Health Challenges
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In December 2021, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy of the United States issued a warning about youth mental health. This advisory provides an explanation of the growing mental health needs, identifies the populations most at risk, and suggests actions that community organizations can take to address the rising demand for youth mental health services.
Community colleges in North Carolina find themselves at the forefront, as they witness an increase in mental health challenges among their students, including high schoolers and adult learners. These colleges are committed to meeting the mental health needs of their students, from hiring more staff to support growing counseling demands to reducing the stigma associated with mental health care.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about additional hardships for many students. The boundaries between their personal lives and the academic environment have become blurred, particularly as many students spent most of 2021 learning from home.
Sandra Lackner, the dean of students at Isothermal Community College, emphasized that what happens in the classroom often reflects what is occurring in students’ personal lives. Isothermal Community College, which serves over 6,200 students in Polk and Rutherford counties, offers up to three free counseling sessions per student. If additional sessions are necessary, the school strives to accommodate the students’ needs. The college has two on-campus counselors and two faculty members who are licensed counselors available for emergencies.
"For our size and location in a rural area, we have a remarkable network of resources on campus and within the community," Lackner stated.
The burden of grief is also present among students and families in North Carolina. According to a recent report from the COVID Collaborative, it is estimated that over 3,600 children in the state have lost a caregiver due to COVID-19. In total, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported that 19,706 people in the state have died from COVID-19.
These losses have had a devastating impact on students and families, leading many students to turn to their schools for support. Kenyetta Richmond, the director of the Shugart Women’s Center and Counseling Services at Forsyth Technical Community College, explained that numerous students are dealing with grief related to the loss of loved ones during the pandemic, along with challenges associated with job loss. Due to federal COVID-19 relief funds, Forsyth Technical Community College was able to hire a fourth counselor, increasing their capacity to provide support. However, not all counselors at the college are equipped to address grief, which has become a growing need among students. In such cases, the college refers students to Trellis Supportive Care, a local hospice organization in Winston-Salem, that offers free grief counseling.
Besides coping with the loss of loved ones, the COVID-19-induced isolation has presented significant challenges for students and staff alike. Richmond highlighted the lack of places to go and the constant exposure to social media, television, and news throughout the day as contributing factors to this challenge.
Counselors have become a crucial source of connection and safety for students during these difficult and uncertain times. Richmond stated that students feel a sense of security and comfort in the presence of counselors.
The need for a safe space extends beyond students to faculty and staff, who have also been impacted by the stress of the pandemic. Lackner emphasized that as colleges serve their communities, they are a part of the community themselves. While there may not be dedicated counselors on campus for faculty and staff, both Isothermal Community College and Forsyth Technical Community College offer employee assistance programs that provide mental health services when needed. Additionally, the colleges connect staff with community organizations that offer mental health services.
Moving forward, both schools are committed to reducing the stigma associated with mental health care. Despite an increase in the number of students seeking services, the stigma surrounding mental health challenges persists. Richmond believes that more students require assistance beyond those who actively seek these services.
"We must continue the conversation," Richmond said.
This article was originally published on EducationNC and has been republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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