STUDENT LIFE ‘mdash; It’s almost finals again and you’re also having trouble sorting out housing for next year (which, by the way, you’ll now be financing on your own) since one of your would-be roomies just backed out ‘mdash; turns out she’s still pissed at you for pulling her top down at the waterslide on Sun God.
Sound familiar? College can be a stressful time no matter what, but the current recession means that students are under more pressure than ever; a study published May 4 by the American Psychiatric Association said the recession has given way to sharp increases in both stress and anxiety nationaly.
According to UCSD Wellness Director Jerry Phelps, amid the budget cuts that the University of California currently faces, the Wellness Program is vulnerable to losing the funding it has ‘mdash; which already isn’t enough to complete construction of the new Wellness Center at John Muir College.
The center would incorporate both physical and mental wellness, providing services like yoga classes and psychological counseling under one roof. The lack of funds has already pushed its completion date back to 2015. The recession is delaying Wellness Center construction just as it increases the need for those services.
One way to meet that increased need, in the face of budgetary challenges, could be to further promote health awareness among students. With a more educated student body, the burden of responsibility would lie less on the Wellness Center ‘mdash; which would be an invaluable adjustment, as students would rely more on themselves than on a fledgling wellness program.
This expansion is necessary as Counseling and Psychological Services and other wellness sectors are, as Phelps pointed out, ‘bursting at the seams.’ Scheduling an appointment to see a counselor can already take more than two weeks ‘mdash; and with less money, the impact of a large demand and little supply will only worsen. Given the financial strain in the face of a growing need, the Wellness Program should channel resources into a Mental Health First Aid program.
This program, which originated in 2000 at the Australian National University, allows students to take a training class at a small fee to help them recognize and deal with prevalent mental issues like depression or anxiety much in the same way that students can get certified in First Aid and CPR.
A program like this one would be cost effective. According to a 2003 University of Michigan study, getting even basic treatment when a psychological problem arises heads off the need for more costly therapy later. It would allow students to counsel one another early on rather than rely on the cash-strapped Counseling and Psychological Services office to silence the nagging voices in their heads once the problem grows aggravated, will improve student health overall.
A study conducted using the Australian program’s participants found that they felt more capable of dealing with mental illness and demonstrated improved mental health.
By training students to recognize potential problems and offer basic solutions, troubled individuals could receive some form of help, if only in the form of a sympathetic ear, before the situation becomes too serious.
Think of it this way: when you’re stressed about tuition, are you more likely to talk to your best friend, or some suit in Counseling and Psychological Services? While we may be lacking resources, as evidenced by the delayed plans for the new center, there are still steps we can take to improve students’ well-being. Wellness, both of your wallet and of your mind, should be made available now more than ever.
Readers can contact Hayley Bisceglia-Martin at [email protected].