Author: Becca Miller
Oct. 4 through Oct. 10 is National Mental Health Awareness Week. In recognition of the week, Emmons Counseling is launching a few different events, including an online depression screening program and a yellow ribbon campaign, providing a non-threatening opportunity to encourage the use of mental health resources within residence halls. The program is intended to increase student awareness of resources available for their mental health.
Last year the student group Active Minds helped raise awareness on campus by sponsoring events during Mental Health Awareness Week. Activities included a candle lighting ceremony in the Greek Bowl and the distribution of silver balloons with mental health resource numbers to call if a student needs help. However, Active Minds is not planning anything for Mental Health Awareness Week this year and Emmons is running the programs.
Psychology Professor Anne Schell said that the week is an important annual occurrence on campus.
“Quite a few Oxy students struggle with mental health issues of loneliness, anxiety, depression and concerns or clear problems centered [on] drinking (or eating). They often feel isolated and that no one else has such problems, at least not to the extent that they do, and that no help is available for them,” Schell said in an e-mail interview. “Mental Health Awareness Week draws attention to the fact that such problems are not uncommon, and that help is readily available on campus through the several services offered by Emmons and by self-help groups.”
Emmons looked for support from the campus community. “The thing about raising awareness is getting students to volunteer,” said Associate Director of Counseling Services Dr. Matthew Calkins. So far Emmons has gotten support from ResLife volunteers. One of their responsibilities included passing out yellow cards during Chilcott’s hall spread last week.
The yellow ribbon campaign was started by the parents of a 15-year-old boy who killed himself in 1994. If someone is struggling with suicidal thoughts, they will give a yellow card to someone as a nonverbal plea for help. The card has phone numbers for counseling services, as well as directions for the person receiving the card on how to access support services.
Calkins also says that this year there is a higher level of expertise in the ResLife staff because they are trained to notice signs of mental health problems and know how to react, including when to call for help in a situation involving mental health issues. “If they need to,” Calkins says, “they can call the Dean of Students or Emmons Counseling as a resource.”
Emmons has organized an anonymous online screening for depression on Thursday, Oct. 8, National Depression Day. They hope students will utilize the resource on that day as well as throughout the year. “Originally, the plan was to have counselors all around campus who people could go to talk to, but because of our staffing that is not realistic,” said Calkins. The hope for the screening is that someone who is too embarrassed to go see counselors will use the online screening to find out if they need help and learn what to do. “It’s completely anonymous and free,” said Director of Student Health Services Richard Youngblood. Emmons will have a table in the quad for screenings and will set up private appointments if the student wishes.
Calkins believes that it is most important to normalize stress, sadness and anxiety. “One problem is that people say, ‘I can handle it,’ but it’s good to address things at a young age to learn skills to address situations,” Calkins said.
Amanda Leong (junior) agrees. “All of us are affected by mental illness just by knowing a close relative or friend who struggles with any disorder. The week [is] great in bringing Oxy students together just to talk about the issues,” she said.
According to Calkins, there is not much in the way of programming for Mental Health Awareness Week because Calkins believes it should be more of a week of reflection, to check in with how students and their friends are feeling.
Emmons offers up to seven free counseling sessions to Oxy students and then charges $30 per session. If students are under Oxy’s medical insurance, this charge is fully covered, and many non-Oxy insurance policies will defray at least part of the cost. Emmons offers individual, family and couples counseling. To make an appointment, students can either use walk-in hours from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. during the week or make an appointment as they would to get a checkup or shot. Emmons also has groups counseling sessions, including ones on handling stress, grief and social situations.
Emmons has three non-staff, licensed counselors, two psychologists and one marriage and family therapist available to students. Two pre-doctoral students are working with Emmons as interns to make connections with other campuses and program activities related to mental health. Youngblood believes that the students will likely begin to see these programs next semester.
To join a group counseling session or find out more information, email Emmons at oxywell@oxy.edu. If students are interested in Active Minds, email Dr. Mathew Calkins directly at mgcalkins@oxy.edu.
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