This semester has seen the largest demand in Creighton’s counseling center leading the center to respond by increasing its staff size, adding more programs and allowing unlimited access for full time students.
Creighton is not unique for having a rise in mental health care needs. Across the nation colleges are not only reporting more cases of mental health disorders but the severity of it is also increasing.
While American colleges see similar needs in mental health care, universities differ in how they approach that treatment.
Some universities set limits on how often a student can use the counseling services. For example, University of Nebraska Omaha offers short–term counseling of eight to 10 sessions until an outside referral is offered; however, Wayne Young Jr. Assistant Vice President for Student Learning Division of Student Services stressed that there are currently no plans to cap or hinder students’ access to counseling at Creighton University.
“Right now we do not cap; right now there are no plans to cap,” said Young. “I think the university likes it that full-time students can come in and receive free counseling — we think that is a wonderful benefit of getting an education here.”
Currently more than 40 students are on the assignment list for a counselor at Creighton. Meanwhile, individuals on that list have had a phone triage appointment and have been offered one of five different outreach groups that focus on a variety of topics — including grief or students coming from a household with a hoarder — according to Young.
In response to rising mental health care demand from students Creighton is currently in the process of adding the Question. Persuade. Refer. program, otherwise known as QPR.
According to the QPR Institute, their mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training.
“We first started researching it [QPR] last summer and right now we have a staff member who is finishing her certification in QPR,” said Young “Our hope is by the time she is trained we can offer that [training] to certain student groups.”
QPR is not the sole outreach program at Creighton; it will be joining the likes of Green Dot and Tell Someone. According to Young, these outreach programs have the same common principle behind them: Cura Personalis — the care for the entire person.
“If we can embed that into the students here at Creighton, are we not making that a better community? […] It’s learning how to be a better person to my brothers and sisters,” said Young.
Along with programs such as QPR and Tell Someone, the Creighton counseling center is increasing their staff size to include a licensed social worker and mental health practitioner, Sangeetha Kumar.
Kumar works for both Student Life and the counseling center as the Coordinator for Student Transitions and Support.
“On the Student Counseling side, I am helping students in crisis — or doing short term therapy — or case managing situations,” says Kumar.
“On the Student Life end, I am helping students to transition in and out of the university for various health or mental health reasons,” Kumar adds. “I am also getting trained on various mental health topics so I can be another resource for Creighton and do various trainings with students, staff and faculty.”
“Let’s say we have to accompany a student to the hospital for a mental health episode,” said Young. “[Kumar] is right there holding their hand walking with them.”
“That’s three in the morning to midnight when the parents come to pick them up. She’s great.”