Removing masking requirements in classrooms marks a heightened sense of normalcy at the University of Maryland, but the invisible, if painful, legacy of COVID-19 remains a reality on campus : An increasing trend of mental health concerns.

This is a national problem, with 60% of 1,000 college students surveyed by Fortune and the Harris Poll in June reporting a diagnosed mental health condition, compared with 48% of the general population. I’m here.

To help communities weather the lingering stress of the pandemic and other challenges, UMD is working to meet their mental health and wellness needs.

Allison Asarch, Counseling Center Staff Psychologist and Coordinator of Consultation and Outreach Services, said:

counseling
The Counseling Center offers students free short-term student services ranging from one-on-one sessions and group therapy to career counseling. It also offers skill-building educational sessions that focus on “the two types of concerns that students most often see when they come to a counseling center: anxiety and depression.”

Students seeking treatment can make an appointment at the Center’s Front Desk or by calling the Counseling Center at 301.314.7651. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday 8:30 AM to 7 PM and Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Students can also request to be paired with a therapist of their preferred background, including race and gender. The Counseling Center emphasizes culturally sensitive care and deliberately employs clinicians from diverse backgrounds. Counseling Centers allow therapists of all backgrounds to provide identity-affirming counseling and integrate identity-related issues into treatment.

wellness workshop
The Counseling Center offers students drop-in virtual workshops on 16 mental health and wellbeing topics, including coping with stress, effective communication skills, and time management, Monday through Thursday at 4 p.m. increase.

Wellness workshops broadly reflect college student development and encourage strategies that can be implemented in the classroom and in personal life.

“They focus on the kinds of concerns related to academic success, relationships, and positive coping that everyone can benefit from to enable improvement and growth,” said Assir. rice field.

A new program for suicide prevention
Representing a significant step in the university’s commitment to building a culture of care on campus, the Counseling Center’s new TERPS (Training for Assessment, Response and Suicide Prevention) initiative supports students at risk It greatly expands the capabilities of UMD and could potentially depart. tragedy.

This 3-hour experiential training equips educators with the knowledge and skills they need to find and act on those in need. TERPS for Terps kicked off last week with the training of 300 of her UMD Resident Advisors.

“Given the increasing severity of voicing concerns across college students, including an increase in the number of students who have experienced suicidal ideation and have a history of suicidal ideation and attempted suicide, We felt it was important to implement Low Threshold, a highly interactive suicide prevention program on our campus,” said Chetan Joshi, Director of the Counseling Center.

A well-researched training program was developed at Syracuse University and tailored to UMD, says Joshi. The Counseling Center was introduced on campus with financial support from the Parent Charity Committee, strong support from Student Affairs leaders, and input from student leaders.

Departments and other campus units interested in receiving training can complete an outreach request form on the Counseling Center website.

drop in hour
LGBTQ+ students, international students, students of color, and veterans are eligible for weekly stop-by hours at the Counseling Center. Drop-in visits provide a safe place to seek support for these students, who experts say may be at higher risk of stigma around mental health and counseling.

Drop-in hours are from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM on weekdays at the Counseling Center. Students will meet with their allies and will be asked to complete a few short questionnaires upon arrival.

emergency services
The Counseling Center provides same-day emergency visits to students in crisis. After hours, mental health professionals are available to call the Counseling Center for telephone counseling.

Psychiatric and off-campus referrals
Counseling centers can refer students who may benefit from psychiatric treatment to behavioral health services at the University Health Center or to off-campus providers.

Behavioral Health Services also offers a variety of mental health services, including psychiatric medication management for students. This is a partnership with a counseling center and includes a full range of psychological and psychiatric services.