Over the summer, several student resource centers closed due to H.B. 261. Since then, the mental health resources offered through those centers have had to find a new home.
In addition to the University Counseling Center (UCC), the University of Utah had offered access to mental health counselors through student resource centers like the Center for Equity and Student Belonging (CESB), the Women’s Resource Center (WRC), the LGBTQ+ Resource Center and the Black Cultural Center.
Lori McDonald, vice president of student affairs, explained that the closures have led to the reallocation of these mental health resources. They haven’t gone away, students just need to know where to find them.
Where to Find Mental Health Support
When speaking on the reallocation of mental health resources, McDonald gave the CESB as an example. Before H.B. 261, the mental heath support staff embedded in the CESB were counselors from the UCC. They spent a certain amount of time per week in the CESB. Since this center’s closure, the counselors now spend this time in the new Center for Student Access and Resources (CSAR) and the Center for Community and Cultural Engagement (CCE).
“We wanted to ensure that there were still student mental health counselors in these support offices even though CESB needed to drastically change,” McDonald said.
The WRC and LGBTQ+ Resource Center also staffed mental health counselors. Those counselors now also reside in the UCC.
The closed resource centers had mental health counselors because many of them had unique training that applied to the center they worked in. For example, the WRC offered counseling that used a feminist multicultural framework. This framework implements feminist and multicultural perspectives into a counselor’s practice. Not every counselor at the U has received this kind of training, however.
Just because these specific counselors can’t be found in these centers doesn’t mean that they are no longer available to students. McDonald pointed out that when a student goes to the UCC, their first appointment is an “intake appointment.” At this appointment, a student will speak with a counselor about their mental health needs and goals. Then, they will be assigned to a counselor who is best fit to help them.
Additionally, to increase student access to mental health resources, student affairs has embedded counselors into some of the colleges on campus.
“Engineering students are doing their labs and homework from morning to night,” McDonald said, “And having a counseling office there and having a counselor they see all the time can help them access counseling a little more easily.”
Mental Health Support and Its Regulations
The U has a variety of mental health resources accessible to students to ensure they are getting the support they need. This includes a 24/7 crisis line, individual counseling, group counseling, couples counseling, psychiatric medication services and more.
The state of Utah doesn’t directly require public institutions to provide mental health counseling to students. According to the Department of Education’s interpretations of Title IX, schools should help provide resources and support for those experiencing sex-based discrimination, harassment or violence. But, there is no requirement that an institution provides treatment or counseling.
McDonald explained that in many ways, the lack of specific regulations surrounding mental health counseling at public institutions has been beneficial for the U. This is because the resources the U chooses to provide are “market driven.” This means that faculty can continuously assess the needs of students and create resources accordingly.
“We have to adapt to student needs, and I think our students over the years have demanded of us more wellness resources,” McDonald said. “Our student government supported a mental health student fee many years ago that helped fund a number of our counselors.”
The mental health fee was implemented in 2018. Each student contributes $15 per semester as a part of their tuition and fees. This money goes towards student resource centers on campus. It also ensures that students don’t have to pay a fee for some counseling appointments. Group, couples and individual therapy sessions are offered to the campus community at no cost. Services like psychiatric medical evaluations and medication management appointments are offered at a fee.
Mental Health Education for Staff
There are also several resources for U faculty and staff to learn more about providing mental health support for students. McDonald said that becoming a JED Campus has been one way that faculty and staff can learn more about mental health in younger generations and provide support to students. The JED Foundation created the JED Campus program. It’s designed to help campuses assess community needs and create plans to address them.
Additionally, McDonald pointed to the Center for Teaching Excellence. This center helps faculty understand their role in student mental health. It can also help them implement mental health support in their own teaching practices.
McDonald said that younger generations have done a great job at reducing the stigma around mental health. She added faculty at the U are here to support students however they can.
“I think we need to constantly remind students to please, ask for help,” McDonald said. “Don’t be afraid. Don’t be hesitant. Sometimes [it’s as simple as] just asking if we have something that can help, and I don’t think that’s a weakness in any way.”
