Spring Break
Mental wellness deserves attention
Anxiety among top concerns
MELISSA WEINMAN
Issue date: 1/11/08 Section: News
"We carry beepers 24/7," Zanone said, "and the clinic is open on weekends," explaining the measures CAPS takes to ensure they are available to students in need.
Students may be referred to other counseling options either on campus or in the Athens area if they require long-term care or if the volume of patients is too high.
Robbins said she has seen an increase in the amount of students seeking psychological counseling and their level of distress and severity over the last 10 to 15 years, and a more immediate increase since August.
"Through the student health fee, we've been able to get additional clinical staff," Zanone said. "The new staff is recognition of the high demand for our services."
Both Robbins and Zanone brought up the stigma associated with mental health issues.
"One of the first things a client will say is, 'Am I crazy?' It speaks volumes about their internalized stigma and social beliefs about what it means to be healthy and well."
Students seek counseling for a variety of reasons, but Zanone said the "top three" they see are anxiety, depression and relationship concerns. Robbins added that behind those three are eating disorders and substance abuse issues.
Zanone said students come in to continue medication they were prescribed by another psychiatrist.
There are 22 specialists employed at CAPS, including psychologists, psychiatrists, post-doctoral trainees and social workers.
CAPS is not the only outlet available to students seeking help.
The Psychology Clinic, run by the University's psychology department, offers a broad range of services students and Athens residents can pay for on a sliding scale based on monthly income.
"All therapy is done by grad students training to be licensed psychologists, supervised by licensed psychologists," said Melissa Mattox, administrative assistant at the clinic.
The Center for Counseling and Personal Evaluations is another option for those who want or require more immediate care.
"For counseling, we don't have a wait at all," Jill Kleinke, administrative assistant at the center, said.
Like the Psychology Clinic, the Center for Counseling and Personal Evaluations charges patients on a need-based sliding scale, with sessions ranging from $10 to $30 each.
"It's great for people because rates are so low," Kleinke said. "It's one of those community resources that people really don't know about."
There are other options off campus. Tom Camp is the executive director of Samaritan Counseling, where counselors try to help patients through spirituality and positive life changes, such as nutrition and exercise.
Camp said there are many mental health care providers in Athens, but care may not be available across the board because of limitations from medical insurance.
"We want students to develop a preventative mindset," Zanone said. "We try to normalize seeking mental health services."
Students may be referred to other counseling options either on campus or in the Athens area if they require long-term care or if the volume of patients is too high.
Robbins said she has seen an increase in the amount of students seeking psychological counseling and their level of distress and severity over the last 10 to 15 years, and a more immediate increase since August.
"Through the student health fee, we've been able to get additional clinical staff," Zanone said. "The new staff is recognition of the high demand for our services."
Both Robbins and Zanone brought up the stigma associated with mental health issues.
"One of the first things a client will say is, 'Am I crazy?' It speaks volumes about their internalized stigma and social beliefs about what it means to be healthy and well."
Students seek counseling for a variety of reasons, but Zanone said the "top three" they see are anxiety, depression and relationship concerns. Robbins added that behind those three are eating disorders and substance abuse issues.
Zanone said students come in to continue medication they were prescribed by another psychiatrist.
There are 22 specialists employed at CAPS, including psychologists, psychiatrists, post-doctoral trainees and social workers.
CAPS is not the only outlet available to students seeking help.
The Psychology Clinic, run by the University's psychology department, offers a broad range of services students and Athens residents can pay for on a sliding scale based on monthly income.
"All therapy is done by grad students training to be licensed psychologists, supervised by licensed psychologists," said Melissa Mattox, administrative assistant at the clinic.
The Center for Counseling and Personal Evaluations is another option for those who want or require more immediate care.
"For counseling, we don't have a wait at all," Jill Kleinke, administrative assistant at the center, said.
Like the Psychology Clinic, the Center for Counseling and Personal Evaluations charges patients on a need-based sliding scale, with sessions ranging from $10 to $30 each.
"It's great for people because rates are so low," Kleinke said. "It's one of those community resources that people really don't know about."
There are other options off campus. Tom Camp is the executive director of Samaritan Counseling, where counselors try to help patients through spirituality and positive life changes, such as nutrition and exercise.
Camp said there are many mental health care providers in Athens, but care may not be available across the board because of limitations from medical insurance.
"We want students to develop a preventative mindset," Zanone said. "We try to normalize seeking mental health services."
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Winfield J. Abbe
posted 1/14/08 @ 4:39 AM EST
The effects of alcohol on the brain are well known. Here is a summary from a Scientific American Article July 29, 1999 by Anthony Dekker D.O.
"Under the influence of alcohol, the brain experiences impairments in the regions shown:
Frontal Lobe (A): Loss of reason, caution, inhibitions, sociability, talkativeness and intelligence. (Continued…)
Abby
posted 11/10/08 @ 2:07 AM EST
Though I agree that counseling helps a great deal, especially if you no one to talk to I still think the best thing we can do to keep our mental health is nourish our bodies with the nutrients it craves. (Continued…)
Drug Treatment
posted 1/21/09 @ 10:29 AM EST
Students can be under a lot of stress and pressure, especially during sessions.
Alcohol Rehab
posted 2/10/09 @ 5:11 AM EST
Students need the educational system to be changed. The problem is that nowadays, money have not been invested in education. There are a lot of new successful techniques that could improve the educational system, but I don't see any of those being implemented. (Continued…)
Psychology Dissertation
posted 3/09/09 @ 7:34 AM EST
That is true most of my friends talk openly about physical health with their doctor but about mental health they usually hide it.
tomfeinberg
Custom Thesis Writing
posted 4/02/09 @ 10:05 AM EST
"It's important to emphasize that we don't turn students away who are in acute distress," I completely agree with this words!
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