Be Mindful: Mental health resources for local college students
Victor Guzman
CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KION-TV) — Being a college student can be tough. A number of things can take a toll on a student’s mental health, from finances to simply transitioning from high school to college.
“It’s been different from high school but I’m trying to manage it,” says CSUMB student Makena Coleman.
Jessica Lopez at CSUMB’s Personal Growth and Counseling Center says other stresses include a student’s sudden busy schedule as they also consider the transition to adult hood.
A study out of U.S. News finds when students are getting mentally overwhelmed by stress, only around 37% of them try to seek help.
This is despite more than 70% of upper class college students reporting having mental health issues once they started college.
The survey indicates one other contributing factors to mental health challenges for students includes the current political and cultural climate in the U.S.
“There’s a lot going on that has to do with family or [political] demonstrations or budget cuts,” says CSUMB student Brandon Calvario.
Lopez says campuses can provide unique resources and opportunities to manage stress.
She says in the past she’s asked students what are some barriers in place that are preventing them from talking to counselors at CSUMB.
“A lot of them mentioned embarrassment, lack of time or feeling as though somebody else’s problems are maybe more deserving than theirs,” she says.
For CSUMB specifically, Lopez says getting help while in college can be simpler for students, plus they often won’t have a co-pay or out of pocket expense while attending school.
“Lots of times we don’t learn from our families how to do things like schedule an appointment or have an annual check up or what insurance provider we have and what coverage we have,” says Lopez.
Lopez says CSUMB pushes for early intervention. Adding that they would rather have students get the help they need as soon as possible instead of waiting for things to get worse.
“We want them to come in early, regularly and that’s how we can better support them for their goals,” Lopez says.
Students who are ready to get help can visit CSUMB’s Personal Growth and Counseling center at the Wellness Services Building.
Walk-in hours are Monday through Thursday from 1 to 4 pm and Crisis appointments are available Monday through Friday.
Bathrooms across campus have magnetic information cards with additional information on services provided.
CSUMB also has services for students and community members who want to be trained in starting a conversation around Mental Health. It’s called Mental Health First Aid and is a 7-hour training for anyone interested.
“The PGCC provides Let’s Talk – an informal way to meet counselors and talk about mental and health and wellness,” says Enrollment Management and student Affairs Vice President Ben Corpus. “Let’s Talk is located in central locations on campus to increase accessibility and reduce stigma.”
For more on CSUMB’s services, click here
For non-CSUMB college students, here’s a list of other mental health resources across other campuses on the Central Coast:
UC Santa Cruz Student Health & Wellness Center
Cabrillo College Student Health Services
Hartnell College Crisis Counseling & Emotional Wellness Services
Monterey Peninsula College Student Health Services
Gavilan College Student Health and Wellness Services