On Oct. 4, SUNY issued a press release regarding the expansion of mental health services through all the 64 college campuses across the state. This expansion includes initiatives specific to COVID-19.
As the pandemic creates unprecedented obstacles for physical and mental health, SUNY is adamant about pushing for the expansion of mental health services through all its campuses by establishing different programs that will accommodate students remotely.
The expanded program implements tele-counseling. Tele-counseling will make it so students and faculty will have accessible reach to professionals while remaining comfortable in their own homes.
“The tele-counseling program offers cognitive behavioral therapy, consultative service for clinicians, and crisis assistance provided by SUNY physicians, psychologists, or nurse practitioners on a secure online platform,” according to the press release.
SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras explained that Downstate Health Sciences University and Upstate Medical University will be the center of the tele-counseling for SUNY students. Upstate Medical already serves students at 10 campuses for tele-counseling. Downstate will join them and provide services for five more campuses.
SUNY has also started a public awareness campaign in efforts to help reduce the negative stigmas regarding mental health in addition to reaching out for professional help. This campaign is titled #ReachOutSUNY.
“The campaign will also encourage more faculty, staff, and students to take the free online crisis training program, Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR), that teachers individuals how to recognize someone who may be in emotional distress or having suicidal thoughts, and how to appropriately engage and connect that person to resources that can help,” according to the press release.
Another part of this plan involves a new partnership with Thriving Campus, a web application that helps students connect with local mental health providers after they have received a referral from their on-campus counseling center.
Geneseo Assistant Director of Counseling Services Dr. Beth Cholette said she sees the expanded mental health resources announced in the press release as a “toolbox,” where “more resources and helpful tools” have been added for students and faculty to stay mentally healthy during this unprecedented tine.
“If you have a hammer in your toolbox, that's a wonderful tool with a onetime use … If you need a screwdriver, the hammer is just not going to work. I think the more tools, the better … The more variation of those tools, the better,” Cholette said.