According to a statistic shared during a recent conference at UHart, more than 60 percent of students now meet the criteria that could make them eligible for mental health counseling or intervention.
That’s why the conference, “Mental Health on Campus for Students, Faculty & Staff,” was so timely. Sponsored by the Center for Higher Education Retention Excellence (CHERE), it was held on campus with both a live and remote audience via Zoom, and brought together mental health professionals and student representatives.
Suzanne McNeil, associate vice president in UHart’s Division of Student Success, and Jeff Burda, director of counseling and psychological services, helped run the event. Also participating were students from UHart, Mitchell College, Connecticut Community College-Manchester, Pace University, and Goodwin University.
Participants heard discussions on subjects such as “Taking Care of Yourself” and “Beyond Counseling.” On the agenda were topics like the effects of social media; the value of safe spaces to share concerns; the link between emotional and physical health; the critical value of trust; and the need for a strong support system in every corner of the University.
CHERE endeavors to understand and improve policies and practices that lead to increased student retention throughout the college experience.