Shaunte Elbert, Vice President of Health and Wellbeing, showcases how counseling and counseling services are reaching students of color.Credit Amani Bayo | Lantern Reporter

The Student Life Counseling and Advisory Service introduces alternative on-campus services for students of various backgrounds to address experiences that do not necessarily correspond to traditional care methods.

Shaunte Elbert, vice president of health and welfare at the Office of Student Affairs, said in a presentation of the new psychology enhancement program entitled “Deconstructing Black Mental Health Stigma,” that CCS will use traditional psychology to meet needs. He said he offers a variety of care beyond methods. of black students.

Elbert said CCS implements a culture-based approach to counseling related to issues common to the Black community, such as low socioeconomic status and the impact of intergenerational trauma on mental health.

“All aspects of public health, including psychology, are starting to talk about the social determinants of health and how they affect health care, mental health and well-being,” Elbert said.

Elbert said campus counseling services need to be more flexible and support individual needs to meet the needs of diverse students with different social experiences.

“Right now, students of color are coming to campus more acutely, which means they have more problems and counseling is not the only option,” Elbert said. “If a student says, ‘I really don’t want to do this traditional method of care,’ why can’t they read Tarot cards on campus?”

Elbert said a growing number of students are entering college and may not have experienced any form of counseling and may be either unacceptable or hesitant to seek counseling. Historically marginalized communities of color, international students, veterans and people with disabilities relate to mental health differently and often face stigma, Elbert said. .

Tahj Linton, a psychology senior, participates in organizing the program and believes that knowing counselors who recognize needs within the black community helps end the stigma of mental health. said there is.

“The feeling of being validated by our experience just meant the world,” Linton said. You can bring up these conversations.”

Audia Fraley, a clinical therapist incorporated into CCS, said it is important to take a cultural approach when providing counseling services, such as group counseling, random drop-in sessions that connect students with the community. It is said that

“CCS can use our list of community providers to refer you to this type of support that is appropriate for your situation,” says Fraley. “This is important because we are not one-size-fits-all. If it makes sense to connect with the larger Columbus community, we support it.”

Fraley said the relationship between the black community’s social experiences and their mental health has been acknowledged and has influenced the types of services CCS provides.

“Black communities, like other communities of color, are more likely to experience socioeconomic disparities,” said Fraley. “If you look at black college students, about 50% report no mental health education.”

Linton believes that whatever counseling is for each student, she calls to let it out, shares experiences with others, and chooses a personal and informal CCS counselor. It said it encourages black students to explore those services to find the one that works best for them.

“Take advantage of Black Spaces and Black Leaders, because they are obviously here to support us, because they understand our experience,” Linton said. rice field.