2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
Mental wellness deserves attention
Anxiety among top concerns
MELISSA WEINMAN
Issue date: 1/11/08 Section: News
With January comes a slew of New Year's resolutions, visible in packed gyms and sidewalks clogged with joggers.
Though many students openly are trying to improve their physical health, few so frankly talk about the importance of mental health.
There are a variety of options for students seeking counseling on and off campus that meet a range of needs.
Matt Orbell, who works at the Center for Counseling and Personal Evaluation, said people often assume only those with diagnosable mental disorders need psychological counseling.
"Counseling and therapy is helpful for everyday people with everyday problems," Orbell said. "People don't get a lot of coaching … to help navigate feelings."
A good resource for students seeking short-term therapy is Counseling and Psychiatric Services at the University Health Center, referred to as CAPS.
Chuck Zanone, the associate director for outreach and consultation at CAPS, said it was designed to provide brief treatment to serve more students, with normal treatment time lasting less than 10 sessions.
"That brief treatment model meets the needs of the student population," Zanone said.
But those without an immediate need may have to be patient.
Students must go through a series of steps to assess their needs before they can make an appointment.
"It's important to emphasize that we don't turn students away who are in acute distress," Zanone said.
After the initial screening, CAPS presents students with options and may place them on a "to be assigned list" for ongoing counseling.
Zanone said those with more urgent needs begin working with a counselor more quickly.
"We try to give clients a more realistic assessment of the wait," Zanone said.
Gayle Robbins, director of CAPS, emphasized some think the possible wait time is an indication that CAPS is not sympathetic to the needs of students.
"We take the well-being of students very, very seriously. It concerns me that people think CAPS is unresponsive."
Though many students openly are trying to improve their physical health, few so frankly talk about the importance of mental health.
There are a variety of options for students seeking counseling on and off campus that meet a range of needs.
Matt Orbell, who works at the Center for Counseling and Personal Evaluation, said people often assume only those with diagnosable mental disorders need psychological counseling.
"Counseling and therapy is helpful for everyday people with everyday problems," Orbell said. "People don't get a lot of coaching … to help navigate feelings."
A good resource for students seeking short-term therapy is Counseling and Psychiatric Services at the University Health Center, referred to as CAPS.
Chuck Zanone, the associate director for outreach and consultation at CAPS, said it was designed to provide brief treatment to serve more students, with normal treatment time lasting less than 10 sessions.
"That brief treatment model meets the needs of the student population," Zanone said.
But those without an immediate need may have to be patient.
Students must go through a series of steps to assess their needs before they can make an appointment.
"It's important to emphasize that we don't turn students away who are in acute distress," Zanone said.
After the initial screening, CAPS presents students with options and may place them on a "to be assigned list" for ongoing counseling.
Zanone said those with more urgent needs begin working with a counselor more quickly.
"We try to give clients a more realistic assessment of the wait," Zanone said.
Gayle Robbins, director of CAPS, emphasized some think the possible wait time is an indication that CAPS is not sympathetic to the needs of students.
"We take the well-being of students very, very seriously. It concerns me that people think CAPS is unresponsive."
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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…)
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