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UMich is Trying Something New to Improve Mental Health

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Though the rates of stress and depression on college campuses have been increasing, it doesn’t seem as though universities have been able to find ways to provide resources to combat the ever-growing issue. While most schools do offer mental health and counseling services, they are often difficult to access, as only a small staff of professionals is available to provide support for a very large body of students. Students sometimes must wait weeks or longer before scheduling an initial appointment, let alone being able to meet with a specialist on regular basis, as is often needed to properly treat mental health issues.

Recognizing this problem, the University of Michigan has implemented the “embedded model” program in order to reach more students in a more effective way. Instead of centralizing the counseling program in one office, staff will be placed in each of the university’s individual colleges.

“Our goal is to increase support, but not just to increase by doing the same old thing,” Dr. Todd Sevig, director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at the University, told the Michigan Daily. “We really wanted to grow in this new way, and that new way is a direct, local service delivery, local meeting within that particular place. And it also meets the needs of the schools and colleges.”

By having staff focus on a particular college, they will be better able to give individualized support and have a better understanding of the challenges a student in a particular major or course of study encounters.

The efforts taken by CAPS seem to be working—The university reported a 34 percent increase in students seeking out mental health services at the end of phase one of the initiative. Those students who fear such individualized support should not worry, according to Sevig. The school will still offer centralized counseling services.

“If a student feels uncomfortable with seeing the person in that school or college, maybe they’re uncomfortable because someone will see them go to that staff member’s office let’s say, the beauty of that model and approach is that they can come to Central,” Sevig said.

The success of the embedded model program has prompted other universities to consider adopting it. Members of University of Pennsylvania’s student organization Active Minds, which is dedicated to increasing awareness of and fighting mental health issues, are pushing their school to adopt increased counseling services in a similar manner to UMich. We’re glad that someone is finally taking the steps necessary to get college students the help they need and deserve!


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