Collaborating to Address Student Mental Health & Wellness Tuesday, March 19 (7:15 AM - 8:15 AM) Grand Ballroom - Marriott Taisha L. Caldwell, PhD. CalMHSA Student Mental Health Grant Program Manager University of California Office of the President Jennifer Miller, PhD. Director, Student Affairs Assessment, Research and Staff Development CSU Channel Islands
Outline Defining the problem Doing more with less Collaboration as one solution The Student Mental Health Initiative Statewide resources Cross-system collaboration Management model Individual Campus Examples UC Riverside CSU Channel Islands
Defining the Problem Counseling Centers nationwide report increasing numbers of students seeking services (M. Kitzrow, 2003) The mental health of our college students is at risk and the demand for services is higher than ever (Kitzrow, 2003) Diagnoses of these students indicate a heightened severity of problems and an increasing use of medications for anxiety, mood disorders, and depression. Faculty, staff, and students have feared for their own safety when interacting with students in crisis in response to national tragedies (Columbine, VA Tech, Northern Illinois, etc.)
Reality Our students are suffering as their families struggle to pay rising tuition and the added stress only compounds the stressors of rigorous academic demands and adjustment to college life. Challenging economic times and drastic budget cuts have forced us all to do more with less! These realities contribute to an atmosphere where student affairs departments may want to cling on to their resources and fight to defend their utility on campus.
Questions: 1. Have you ever felt like you were competing for recourses with a service that is equally valuable? How did you/would you handle this? 2. Can collaboration help? By creating a common language in which we can discuss differences, we can begin to examine some of the frightening paradoxes which have paralyzed our youth and trapped us all in parallel silos on campus (Fried, 2000).
Defining Moment 2000 2004 Mental health increases as a priority for the UC as the demand for services increase and National tragedies occur. December 2004: Adam Ojakian, UC Student dies by suicide September 2005: Victor and Mary Ojakian address the UC Board of Regents regarding student suicide prevention and request UC to examine practices and policies related to student mental health; December 2005 Then Acting Provost Hume appoints the Student Mental Health Oversight Committee.
The Student Mental Health Oversight Committee The Committee reviewed relevant literature & best surveyed practices: Concluded that mental health trends visible nationally are negatively affecting all UC campuses UC students were presenting mental health issues with greater frequency and complexity Budget trends within the University limit the capacity of campuses to respond to mental health issues This increasing demand and declining capacity pose a threat to the learning environment Will have adverse impacts on faculty, staff, and students
SMHC Recommendations: Creating Healthier Learning Communities: A Tiered Model for Improving Student Mental Health Tier 1 Critical Mental Health and Crisis Response Services Tier 2 Targeted Interventions Tier 3 Creating Healthy Learning Environments: A Comprehensive Approach to Prevention
A comprehensive institutional approach: Collaboration A problem needing many solutions, this is one People collaborate when the job they face is too big, is too urgent, or requires too much knowledge for one person or group to do alone (Martin & Murphy, 2000 ). Arguably, the best models for collaboration exist when the collaboration efforts are more than one time, single-program initiatives on campus. (Bourassa & Kruger, 2001).
Developing a Plan What Structures are in place: SMHOC CAPS Directors What structures do you have in place? What funding opportunities are available to you? Current funding opportunities California Prop 63 Mental Health Services Act California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA)
CalMHSA SMHI Award UC proposed a system wide, two-phase initiative to address college student mental health issues (CAPS Directors in collaboration with the SMHOC & Office of the President) Phase I includes developing and enhancing campus programs and services for peer-to-peer support, faculty/staff/student training, suicide prevention, and stigma and discrimination reduction. Phase II includes strengthening UC s relationship with the CSU and CCC systems by collaborating on projects that increase access to services to all students within the systems, and provide outreach and leverage resources statewide Our proposal was accepted and funded for three years!
Management Structure System Level Management Award Director (dual roles) Program Manager Content expertise Manage collaborative programming campus liaison Project Manager budget/invoicing Reporting Administrative support Think outside the box, who could assume these roles in your institution?
Regional Collaborations Student Mental HealthPartners UC campuses (10) CSU campuses (23) CCC campuses (112) K 12 (2) Who could you partner with? County Partners County department of mental health Other CalMHSA/Prop 63 Partners Stigma & discrimination reduction Suicide prevention
Accountability Accountability (local & state) Quarterly Reports Program evaluation Plans for sustainability Challenges
UC Riverside s collaboration story
SWP Mission Statement In partnership with the Counseling Center, The Well, International Education Center, Housing Services, Student Recreation Center, Campus Health Center and AVC/Dean of Students Office, the Student Wellness Partners offer robust and collaborative campus-wide programming and resources associated with student health and wellbeing. Specifically, the Student Wellness Partners work to strengthen and expand wellness related peer mentor & education programs and develop new programs and initiatives to address the wellness needs of UC Riverside s diverse student population.
UCR Student Wellness Partners The Well (Wellbeing, Empowerment Life and Learning) -Student Affairs Peer Initiatives -Graduate Initiatives, -Health Education Initiatives -Community Service Initiatives -R.E.A.C.H., Golden ARCHEs, Well Peers, Community Service Ambassadors, Fit Squad Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students -Mental Health Initiatives -Diversity Initiatives -Active Minds Housing Services Student Affairs Communications International Education Center - International Student Initiatives Student Recreation Center Campus Health Center -Preventative Care Advocates Counseling Center - StressBusters
History of SWP Collaborations During 2006-2009 Healthy Campus Climate Work Group at UC Riverside set out to centralize, strengthen and expand services, resources and programming related to student health and well-being. An advisory board to guide programming, resource development and oversight for UC Riverside s student wellness work was established. The focus of investments were: 1. Clinical service improvements (Case Manager) 2. Campus-wide health and wellness program collaboration 3. Joint peer mentor trainings/program development (with a focus on traditionally underrepresented students and graduate students) 4. Assessment of student needs related to health and wellness 5. Opening of The Well (Well-being, Empowerment, Life, and Learning)
Well-being, Empowerment, Life, Learning Highlander Union Building 248, (951) 827 WELL (well.ucr.edu) UCR offers a variety of wellness-related programs that are designed to support holistic student health and well-being. The WELL is a coordinated center for UCR s wellness programs. The WELL serves to create a safe, supportive, and connected campus environment through the promotion of healthy minds, bodies and communities. The WELL provides accessible, robust resources and support for students in the areas of physical, social, emotional, cultural and spiritual wellness through a network of peer educators, mentors and professionals
History of SWP Collaborations: CALMHSA From 2012- SWP refocused collaborative efforts as a result of budget climate, system-wide grant expectations, and data available regarding student mental health needs. "Smarter" collaborations, data driven budget decisions, and feedback loops became the new reality. The new focus of investments are: 1. SWP branding and resource awareness 2. Expansion of collaborative relationships to ensure health and well-being messaging from recruitment-graduation 3. Analysis of quality and quantity of efforts 4. Continued assessment of student needs related to health and wellness The CALMHSA grant allowed for the continuation of the momentum related to the marketing and messaging related to student health and well-being related resources. The CALMHSA grant additionally allowed for support of shared assessment efforts and peer education training growth and development.
Community Partners Riverside Community Health Foundation Riverside Community College City of Riverside Mental Health Services Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center Alternatives to Domestic Violence Alcoholics Anonymous UCR Recovery Community Guardian Scholars Program
SWP Wellness Work Synergies Large-Scale Programming SH101 Diversity Dialogues Wellness Wednesdays Lunchtime Learning UCR Go Program Online Tools and Messaging Student Wellness Speaker Series WOW Request a Program
Online Health Assessments On and Off Campus Referrals Interactive Self Care Tools Electronic Resource Libraries Google Calendar of UCR Health and Wellness Events Ask a Peer Tool http://well.ucr.edu Community Service Project Search/Reporting Request a Program Tool
Strengths and Challenges Defining Partnering Defining Operating Principles Continued SWP Relationship Building Logos Communication Channels Budget Environment and Funding Clarity Peer Connections Coalition Building with Non- SWP Offices Evolving Roles of 35 People
SWP Assessment SWP and Well mission statements SWP Strategic Initiative related to assessment Plan to assess progress in SWP strategic plan Pilot nature of SWP/Well programs Role of Well to pilot wellness assessment processes Well and the SWP EOQ report data reviews Encouragement of all SWP office to assess and share data
Review of Available Data How: IR consultation SWP steering committee assessment team discussion SWP steering committee discussions SWP program team discussions ATOD committee review Wellness data points requested Written data summaries What: 2010 ACHA 2003-2011 CORE 2010 STOUT 2010 UCUES 2010 CIRP
Individual Program Assessments How: Program lead/assessment Intern consultation Presenter/program lead/assessment Intern Partner survey tool draft review Data sharing e-mail Quarter/EOQ report SWP program team survey tools sharing and trainings SWP steering committee program assessment discussions What: Wellness Wednesday Lunchtime Learning Speaker Series Large SWP Graduate Wellness REACH/Golden ARCHES/Well Peers Community Service In Progress: WOW Go SH101 Request a Program
Step 4 Summary Report
Sharing of Results How: Weekly e-mail Summaries Quarter Reports EOY Reports SWP Steering Committee Meetings Program Teams Peer Program Supervisors Graduate Student Wellness Meetings System-wide Reporting What: Wellness Wednesday Lunchtime Learning Speaker Series Large SWP Graduate Wellness REACH/Golden ARCHES/Well Peers Community Service SH101 Survey Results Secondary Data Available Relevant Data Collected by SWP Offices
CSU Channel Islands- CalMHSA Grant The CSU system focused on prevention strategies addressing the mental health needs of students and advanced the collaboration between educational settings and county services. Three strategic directions were prioritized: 1) Faculty and staff training, 2) peer-to-peer support and 3) suicide prevention. At CI, over the next two years, outreach efforts will be administered to campus faculty, staff and students. Additionally programming efforts will focus on first generation students, veterans, students with disabilities, LBGTQ and international students.
CSU Centralized Projects Electronic Database (SharePoint) Social Marketing Campaign Curriculum Development SH 101 Focus on underserved communities and students with specific needs and will address cultural considerations regarding stigma attached to mental health issues Veterans Disabled Students First-generation College Students
CI Award Focus Hired a part-time Health Educator Suicide Prevention Training for faculty and staff (Kognito) Health Education Resources-Student Health 101 on-line health education magazine Peer to Peer Training-Student Health 101
Discussion: What comes to mind when you think about collaborations regarding mental health work on a college campus? What threats and opportunities might be associated with collaborative mental health work on college campuses? How might we assess progress related to collaborative work?
Thank You! Taisha L Caldwell, PhD CalMHSA Student Mental Health Grant Program Manager University of California Office of the President Jennifer Miller, PhD Director, Student Affairs Assessment, Research and Staff Development CSU Channel Islands