The faculty role inidentifying, responding to,

and referring students mental health needs

New Faculty OrientationAugust, 2015

UNC Counseling Center missionThe Counseling Center at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte• supports the academic, personal, and interpersonal development of UNC

Charlotte students • by providing short-term individual and group counseling, psychological

assessment,• consultation for faculty, staff, parents, and students, and • educational programs to the campus community.

Counseling Center staffing• 12 Psychologists and Social Workers• 4 interns and postdocs• Graduate assistants

Well-being of UNC Charlotte students

• Is a shared responsibility• Contributes to student success and

retention• Helps make the campus safe and

facilitates free intellectual inquiry

Mental health and academic success

• Emotional and social adjustment of 1st-year students is critical to retention (Gerdes and Mallincrodt, 1994).

• Students with higher levels of psychological distress are characterized by – higher test anxiety;– lower academic self-efficacy;– less effective time management; and – less effective use of academic resources (Brackney and Karabenick,

1995).

Mental health and academic success

• Students receiving counseling have a significant retention advantage relative to non-counseled students (Kitzrow, 2003; Wilson, Mason, and Ewing, 1997; Illovsky, 1997).

• Developing depression is the most critical event or “shock” that leads students to consider withdrawing from the university (Pleskac, et al., 2011).

• Students with mental illness report less engagement on campus and poorer relationships, factors that were associated with lower graduation rates (Salzer, 2012).

Mental health and academic success

• Of the 30% of clients who said they were having significant academic problems before starting counseling, 81% agreed or strongly agreed that counseling helped them improve their academic performance.

• Of the 19% of clients said they were thinking of leaving UNC Charlotte before starting counseling, 60% agreed or strongly agreed that counseling helped them stay at UNC Charlotte.

Source: UNC Charlotte Client Satisfaction Survey, 2014-2015

UNC Charlotte students

• Factors affecting academic performance*

• Stress 29.0%• Anxiety 20.1• Sleep difficulties 17.6• Depression 12.1• Internet use/computer games 9.5• Concern for troubled friend

or family member 8.9• Relationship difficulties 8.1

* (incomplete, dropped course, poor grade) Source: National College Health Assessment, spring 2015, n = 1,100

UNC Charlotte students

• Within the last 12 months, diagnosed or treated by a professional for:o Anxiety 16.2%o Depression 12.9%o Panic disorder 6.9%

Source: National College Health Assessment, spring 2015, n=1,100

Outcome• Clients were asked to rate severity when starting and again after counseling. • Percentage of clients rating these problems as “major” or “significant”:

Start of counseling

End of counseling

Depressed mood 81% 18%Anxiety 80 26Hopelessness 68 11Sleep problems 54 14Concentration 76 23Relationships 53 13Academic performance 66 25

Source: UNC Charlotte Client Satisfaction Survey, 2014-2015

Outcome

• 92% of all clients agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “I feel more hopeful about my future as a result of counseling I received.”

• 99% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, "If I were to need help again, I would come back to the Counseling Center.”

Source: UNC Charlotte Client Satisfaction Survey, 2013-2014

How faculty can help• Know how to identify and respond to students who may be

experiencing psychological distress

• Consult with and refer to counseling staff when needed

• Encourage students to attend Counseling Center groups, workshops, and educational events

http://counselingcenter.uncc.edu/home/concerned-about-a-student

• Signs and symptoms of distress• Guidelines for responding• Consultation• Referral guidelines

Signs and symptoms of distress• Erratic behavior• Verbal or written communication that is

out of touch with reality, bizarre, or morbid

• Hints of suicidal or violent thoughts

Responding• Direct, honest, caring• Be clear about your role• Do not promise confidentiality• Consult with deans or colleagues• Suggest a referral for help• Follow-up as needed

Consultation• Consult with the Counseling Center staff by phone (704-

687-0311) or in person (158 Atkins) to explore options for responding.

• Counselor is on-call each business day from 8-5.• In an after hours emergency, call Campus Police (704-687-

2200) or UNC HealthLink (1-888-267-3675) for assistance, which may include contact with the counselor on-call or other community resource.

Referral• Recommend an appointment at the Counseling Center.• Consider helping the student make an appointment by walking the student

to the office or letting the student call from your office.• Normalize the need to ask for help:

– A large percentage of the student body uses the Counseling Center for support.

– Going to counseling is a choice, but some students find that, by taking the risk and attending one session, they end up making a strong and helpful connection with a counselor.

– There is no charge for counseling services.– By law, information disclosed in counseling is confidential.

Gatekeeper Training• Gatekeeper: someone who has

significant contact with students and, therefore, is ideally situated to refer them to campus services.

• Gatekeeper Training: teaches specific and proven techniques for identifying and approaching distressed students in order to make appropriate referrals, such as the counseling center.

• You are not expected to counsel or diagnose.

Gatekeeper Training

o Fast, convenient, engaging

o Completed in 45-minutes--in one or more sittings

o Access online, 24/7o Simulation Format:

Learn through virtual role-play

o Practice having conversations with up to 5 virtual students

How to Enroll

To access the course, log on to http://aruf.kognito.com (enrollment key: uncc89)Take 45-minute courseComplete follow up surveyReturn to the course as many times

as you wish during the year

For more information, contact 704-687-0311

Counseling Center programs• Groups:

• General therapy groups• Social skills• Chronic illness• Support groups for LGBTQ students and students of color• Anxiety reduction (peace of mind)• Coping and resilience

• Resiliency and coping project• Series of talks aimed at helping students cope and respond to

disappointment, failure, loss, or other obstacles to success

158 Atkins704-687-0311

Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm

Tuesday evenings by appointment

counselingcenter.uncc.edu