October marked Mental Health Awareness month at Kent State University. Although October doesn't align with the National Health Observance calendar, it was chosen because the need for mental health support peaks during October, according to Recreation and Wellness Services.
October also serves as a broad reminder of the mental health support systems, training and resources available throughout the year.
Kent State of Well-being has taken the charge to cater a university-wide initiative to make sure Kent State is expanding its efforts towards mental health awareness.
Kent State Events for faculty and staff included a sleep 101 virtual workshop, meditation across campus, yoga instructional program, procrastination workshop, build your stress survival kit and more.
Along those events, Step Up and Speak Out, the university initiative on how to assist distressed or disruptive individuals, was highlighted this month through the response guide resource.
“We've noticed that students will likely go to another student before they'll go to someone in authority,” Taléa R. Drummer-Ferrell, Ph.D, associate vice president and dean of students at Kent State, said. “I'm always saying the biggest thing is to listen without judgment and really support students and make sure we get them the right resources.”
To prepare faculty and staff for these important situations, there are multiple training programs available that increase mental health knowledge and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.
The training offered to students and faculty includes A.I.D. Training, Kognito, Mental Health First Aid and QPR Training. V-A-R Training is the only course exclusively for Kent State students. The contents of these resources help students and faculty learn how to recognize when someone is struggling emotionally and how to help.
“I encourage students to take those trainings at least once a year and feel free to mix it up,” Drummer-Ferrell, Ph.D, said. “One year you do the first aid training. Next you do QPR training. Keep it consistent since educating yourself and being proactive is so important.”
Additional resources for students include the three clinical mental health services on campus - Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the Counseling Center and the Psychological Clinic.
CAPS provides both in-person and telehealth services. Some of the services CAPS provides is individual and group counseling, psychological assessment as well as a recovery community.
CAPS business number is (330) 672-2487 and is available Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. For after-hours support, students can also contact the same number but select option 3 on the phone to speak with a licensed mental health clinician from Impact Student Assistance Program.
“This is a resource where students can sit with their friend who needs help to make sure they get it that same night,” Drummer-Ferrell, Ph.D, said. “It’s a beautiful resource that a lot of our students are not aware of. It is not a crisis line, we call it an after hours line for a reason.”
Students are encouraged to use this line for any difficulties they are facing such as a difficult test, a relationship, family, finances and mental health.
The Counseling Center is another mental health service which is located at 325 White Hall that offers individual and group counseling.
Lastly, the Psychological Clinic provides services for those who are struggling with depression or anxiety, relationship problems, feelings of low self-esteem, coping with a medical condition, or other personal or behavioral problems to seek services from the clinic.
“We are aware of the need to enhance communication and understanding of other resources such as the step care model that lives on the CAPS website," Drummer-Ferrell, Ph.D, said. “Although some may feel they need one resource, they might actually need another. For example, we have workshops that could be more fitting or some may just need more resources.”
The university is currently working on a mental health website so students can easily find the resources they need. The Step Up and Speak Out website has over 90 resources available. This upcoming website will contain less than 20 to make it easier for students to find information. The website will also include resources for students abroad in Florence campus to ensure students abroad are equally represented. The date is not set for the launch of the website yet.
“I really hope that we are getting to a place where we are de-stigmatizing mental health,” Drummer-Ferrell, Ph.D, said. “We are opening up the conversation. Overall, whatever it takes for us to support one another and to be in this together is what matters to me. Flashes continue to take care of flashes.”
For more information about CAPS, please visit www.kent.edu/caps.
For more information about mental health awareness trainings, please visit www.kent.edu/mhsu/MHAT.