A press release arrived in my inbox last week touting a new law passed recently in Springfield that makes it easier for students to access mental health services through their college or university.
“Far too many young people today are facing serious mental health challenges – often without the proper support systems they need,” noted state Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, who championed the bill that requires public universities and colleges to provide up to three licensed mental health professionals if the institution meets the benchmark ratio of clinical, non-student staff members to students.
“At a time when access to mental health services is stretched thin, our colleges and universities must be equipped to serve as vital safety nets,” Villa said.
Here in the Aurora area, Waubonsee Community College and Aurora University are already meeting that benchmark, but applaud the news because they have, particularly in the last few years, recognized that need is growing.
At AU, three full-time licensed professional counselors have been in place prior to the legislation, said Dean of Students Allison Brady. In addition, every new AU student, whether a freshman or transfer, is assigned a student mentor, who goes through hours of training to be able to offer peer support, which includes providing resources if necessary for any mental health issues.
And all students have access to TimelyCare, which is a 24/7 virtual mental health care platform where they can be connected to on-demand or scheduled virtual counseling sessions.
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The use of this platform “skyrocketed during the pandemic,” Brady noted, but students continue to need that additional support, even as “traditional on-ground students also want face-to-face counseling.”
Aurora University’s interest in providing such services is growing, she said, because requests, including those in crisis seeking immediate help, are also climbing.
“Students today are more willing to share,” she added. “They are more readily seeking out services.”
Likewise, Waubonsee Community College sees a growing need. Which is why the community college is fully committed to its Peer Support Program, insisted counselor and Assistant Professor Christian Locke, who spearheaded this mental health initiative in 2023.
According to Locke, Waubonsee is one of the first two-year colleges in the state to offer such an in-house service, and quite possibly the first that pays its peer leaders for their efforts.
While there are “a lot of great programs that are national … we saw the advantages of a program where the college could train its own students, not only for those who use it but for those who run it,” Locke said, noting how peer leaders, many of whom are pursuing careers in counseling, can benefit from this experience.
Locke, who uses the word “robust” when describing WCC’s emphasis on the mental health of students, is proud of the college’s “support from day one,” even before there was any funding from state initiatives, he noted.
According to the American College Health Association, over 60% of college students reported experiencing overwhelming anxiety, and nearly 40% have suffered from depression severe enough to impact their academic performance. Additionally, Villa’s press release noted, suicide is now the second leading cause of death among college-aged individuals.
While WCC now has six full-time and three part-time counselors, Locke is convinced “you can never have enough” when it comes to meeting student needs.
“We see it in our population,” said Locke, referring to a Healthy Minds Study published in 2023 from the University of Michigan that showed 47% of students screened positive for clinically significant symptoms of depression and/or anxiety, the highest rate since 2007.
Certainly there are situational factors that play into these critical emotions, he added, including what’s going on politically in the country. And he’s concerned much of the anxiety from WCC students is going unreported because those impacted don’t understand the boundaries and confidentiality of counseling.
Both he and Brady emphasized a culture of care on their campuses that includes a responsibility to make sure all students feel comfortable reaching out for help, and that parents are aware such support is available.
Locke noted that over the last two years, more than 60 students took advantage of the one-on-one peer counseling at Waubonsee Community College, some using it multiple times. However, that number does not take into account the impact the program has made in other ways.
Peer leaders have given 50 classroom presentations, where their voices have had a “powerful” impact, he said. There have also been “countless table events and workshops” where they hand out flyers and interact with students while offering guidance and resources.
“They want to be out there,” said Imelda Koehler, WCC counselor and student support manager who compiles data and other reporting for this program. “They have such a passion for helping.” And the fact these leaders are students themselves is invaluable because “they see themselves in each other.”
Now starting its third year, the program – which requires eight to 10 weeks of training for the four leaders – has also attracted interest from other community colleges interested in starting similar programs.
“We want to boost (the program) but students here have to build a culture around it and that takes time,” said Locke, pointing to a student survey that indicated 41% felt they would be judged negatively for seeking counseling, yet only 6% would themselves hold that against anyone.
While “the stigma” around mental health “is still out there,” he added, “every action we take breaks down that barrier.”