Blockbuster Mental Health Report recommends increasing CPS funding and access to 24/7 counseling
Content Warning: This article contains references to the death of a student.
The Mental Health Working Group, formed jointly by the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), Campus Life Office, and University Health Service (UHS), released its final report on Campus Mental Health Resources on September 19.
The report’s recommendations include providing 24/7 on-demand and psychosocial services (CPS) counseling, funding transportation to off-campus mental health services, and implementing “completely independent health checks.” establishment of a system for Department of Public Security,” and funding to “expand the number and diversity of CPS counselors.”
The task force launched a Senate-sponsored referendum from this spring election cycle that called on universities to review the mental health resources available to students and allocate resources to fill gaps identified by the review. was formed from The working group’s progress is emblematic of the USG administration’s emphasis from the beginning on the goal of making student mental health a top priority.
In a letter of introduction to the report, signed by USG Mental Health Resource Task Force Co-Chairs Stephen Daniels ’24 and Anna Sivaraj ’23, USG Vice President Hannah Kapoor ’23, and USG President Mayu Takeuchi ’23 , is particularly relevant in recent years as mental health concerns have emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While the university has resumed its full suite of in-person activities, we students are left feeling grief over the loss of individuals and communities, as well as prolonged disruption to academic, social and co-curricular opportunities. We have continued to weather the effects of various pandemics,” the letter read. .
Most of the report is structured as a set of recommendations. There are a total of 32 recommendations within four areas of interest, of which seven only include those that universities have not yet agreed to follow.
Each recommendation details an action or set of actions delegated to a specific administrator or group, each with one of four “under review” statuses. Universities; ‘in progress’ means that recommendations have been accepted and ‘work has begun towards completion’; “completed”; or “completed and in progress”.
The proposals are organized into four sections: “Princeton Migration and Navigation Resources,” “Residential Colleges,” “Outreach and CPS Counselors, Off-Campus Mental Health Care,” and “Telehealth.”
A section on transitioning to Princeton University highlights strategies for raising awareness about first-year mental health resources. Ongoing items include her establishing a UHS Student Health Advisory Board by Spring 2023 and improving the visibility of counselor photos on her website for CPS.
Within the residential colleges on campus, the university is working towards ‘building’.[ing] We need to build a robust crisis response system that does not rely entirely on public safety (we recognize that interactions with fully equipped cops can exacerbate the situation). ”
This includes leveraging the new Residential Life Coordinator (RLC) position and establishing communications from UHS to ensure that residential college staff are “also aware of resources and support related to asymptomatic needs.” includes verifying. (PHA); Sexual Harassment/Assault Advice, Resources, and Education (SHARE); Office of Religious Life (ORL); Both of these items are expected to be completed by Spring 2023.
A number of recommendations for housing college resources are currently under consideration. The undergraduate associate dean, along with University Services, said that “the process of the DSL (Director of Student Life) referencing the level of use of student canteen meal swipes when assessing student well-being concerns. ” is proposed to be considered.
To develop recommendations for TigerWell outreach counselors, other CPS counselors, and off-campus care, the working group reviewed the CPS Spring 2022 Satisfaction Survey and student feedback from USG channels, and We also surveyed students who were referred by providers. For the past two years.
“I am personally proud that almost all of our recommendations are the result of feedback one of our working group members heard from other students about their experience at Princeton,” says Daniels. wrote in a message to the Daily Princetonian.
While CPS clients say they are generally satisfied with the services provided, according to the report, there are two major concerns at this time. One is that students are experiencing long wait times when seeking her CPS services, and the other is “inadequate support for students of color.” LGBTQ+ students and other students of underrepresented backgrounds and identities. ”
The mean waiting time to first CPS consultation was 5.22 days, and the mean waiting time from first consultation to intake was 14.75 days. Some individual counselors had longer waiting times than others.
The report states that the Vice Chancellor for Campus Life, in collaboration with the Office of Advancement,[pursue] A fundraiser for the continuation of TigerWell, including an outreach counselor program. [fiscal year] With 2024 as a priority,” the goal is to institutionalize an outreach counselor program as the grant expires. The deadline for this item is set for his Summer 2023.
By Spring 2023, CPS Director Dr. Calvin Chin is tasked with adding staff to the outreach counselor program. This has the potential for new professional counselors “dedicated to students with disabilities or chronic pain/illness.”
Another item in progress is to “identify funds to support off-campus travel to care, such as the possibility of purchasing Lyft vouchers or creating a Well Ride program here at Princeton University. The purpose is that.
While students expressed interest in telemedicine options in addition to in-person services, the report said students were also concerned about the “lack of private, bookable spaces on campus to make telemedicine appointments.” expressed. In direct response to this concern, the CPS Director continues to compile and maintain a list of private rooms on campus available for telemedicine appointments. In addition, all appointment reminder emails now include links to available telemedicine spaces on campus.
Several other initiatives related to telemedicine are currently underway. By spring 2023, the CPS director plans to change the messaging to “lower the bar for access” to after-hours counseling lines and expand the availability of drop-in his hour counseling. Additionally, by Fall 2023, a 24/7 on-demand counseling service will be established.
All proposals to develop a mental health screening tool that students complete at the beginning of the school year, encourage participation in mental health training during winter sessions, and explore opportunities to expand the number of soundproof spaces on campus are all under consideration. is.
The report also covered two major additional topics. During the academic conversation, the group discussed advice, greater flexibility in grading and pass/D/fail policies, breaks in the academic calendar, and increased support and resources for students on leave of absence.
Additionally, the group discussed support for the Asia Pacific Islander (API) community “especially after the tragic passing of two students at the end of last semester.” The group formed the API Mental Health Working Group with administrators and alumni, and with students he planned to meet and develop a list of recommendations over the course of a year. Additionally, a partnership between CPS and the Asian American Students Association (AASA) will develop programming to “reduce the stigma around access to care that has historically permeated her API community.”
The working group framed its report in the belief that “these efforts demonstrate the importance of direct student dialogue with decision-makers at the university,” and that the group “provides a model for meaningful change across campus.” emphasized the expectation of serving as
“I hope this report will start a larger conversation about the leadership role Princeton can play in combating the current global mental health crisis,” Daniels said to “Prince.” In the message, the group will provide quarterly updates on the report’s recommendations.
Alison Araten is a news staff writer for “Prince”. Her contact information is aaraten@princeton.edu and @alisonaraten on her Instagram.
Annie Rupertus is a freshman from Philadelphia and a news staff writer covering USG for “Prince”. You can contact her at arupertus@princeton.edu or @annierupertus on her Instagram and her Twitter.
