By Josh Buntin
During the pandemic, students were forced to isolate themselves from their friends and classmates. Many did not have a traditional last year of high school or first year of college. Classes became virtual, with minimal interaction and engagement. People were able to alter their appearances through teleconferencing, and they became embarrassed by their body image and avoided going out in public. In addition to stresses due to the pandemic and academic pressures, students experienced the effects of racial and social unrest in the summer of 2020, the 2020 presidential election, global warming, and the recession and inflation caused by the pandemic.
The mental wellness of students is a key concern of the faculty and staff at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB). For decades educators and educational institutions have worked hard to ensure the mental health of their students. This issue has always been important to schools and universities, but the issue was especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued to be a point of focus. One resource the university has provided is the Wellness Center, formerly called the Counseling Center, which provides a variety of free services to students, one of them being counseling services.
Amy Henniges, executive director of the Wellness Center, and John Cheslock, a counselor at the Wellness Center, spoke with the Fourth Estate about the Wellness Center and what services they provide. Last year, the Wellness Center provided mental health and medical services to 500 students across UWGB’s four campus locations. A major resource the Wellness Center provides is crisis consultation. Several times a week, they deal with students contemplating suicide and provide help immediately. They also provide both in-person counseling and teletherapy appointments, and medical services. This is done in partnership with Prevea Health. The University of Wisconsin System also provides services through Mantra Health, which offers teletherapy appointments. The Wellness Center is continuously looking to promote its services and make students aware of the help they offer. They advertise through flyers, posters, digital signage, classroom presentations, programs, and through student orientation. The center is providing more daily appointments for students needing urgent counseling and will typically see a new patient in a non-crisis situation within one-to-three days of initial contact. Students are usually the ones who make the initial contact, but a third of the time, they are helped by faculty and staff at UWGB. Each UWGB campus has a number to call to reach their services. Each campus also has its own counselors. The Green Bay campus shares most of its staff with the Marinette campus.
As for the help and services they provide, Cheslock said, “everything from tips on managing anxiety, grief, depression, adjustment to college, test-taking strategies, to processing traumatic events and more. Identification of feelings and how they affect one’s beliefs. Assisting students in locating higher levels of care if needed, which may include psychiatric consultation, medication management, long-term off-campus counseling, and sometimes hospitalization.” When asked about how the Wellness Center’s services can be expanded, Henniges said, “We are closely monitoring the volume and demand for our services as we will be seeking support to add more counselors to our team so we can continue to serve students. And yes, we will need to creatively find more space as our team grows as we have maximized our space in the current Wellness Center.”
Another resource UWGB provides is Kognito, which trains students, faculty, and staff on how to recognize and approach mental distress. It is an interactive simulation where the trainee roleplays with virtual students in different scenarios. Kognito also instructs how to make referrals for support services, such as the Wellness Center. The training is fully online and takes about an hour to complete.
Dr. Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges, chair of the UWGB Psychology Department, also spoke with the Fourth Estate about the importance of student mental wellness and what challenges students face. According to Wilson-Doenges, less than a quarter of students reach out for help when dealing with mental health issues. This is dangerous, especially when students are dealing with suicidal thoughts. When asked why students may not ask for help, Wilson-Doenges said, “They don’t think they have the time.” They feel they can only ask for help from 8 am to 4 pm when services are available around the clock. They also feel resources like the Wellness Center cannot accommodate them when the Wellness Center recently expanded to include another counselor, but they are working to continue to expand their space, according to Henniges. Faculty and staff are also trained in how to deal with a student who comes to them seeking help and which resources to direct them to. This includes student-athletes, who also experience mental health problems due to the pressures and expectations put upon them in athletics.
Stigma and discrimination play a significant role in preventing struggling students from asking for help. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) says, “Stigma and discrimination can contribute to worsening symptoms and reduced likelihood of getting treatment.” Effects of stigma and discrimination include reduced hope, low self-esteem, and difficulties with social relationships. According to the staff at the Wellness Center, the stigma comes from a variety of places, including from their own families. Cultural norms may also prevent individuals from seeking help. Self-stigma also plays a role. In a 2017 study, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found worse recovery was associated with greater self-stigma. Financial restrictions are also a factor in preventing students from reaching out. The resources at the Wellness Center are completely free and are available to every UWGB student.
Other obstacles to students include a lack of knowledge or awareness of the help available to them. Wilson-Doenges said there is a lot of noise in the world that they need to cut through to promote mental wellness efforts because many students simply are not aware of the help available to them. “It is mandatory that we figure out how to get resources to students who need it,” said Wilson-Doenges. More can always be done to better mental wellness resources. Henniges similarly said, “It is imperative that we offer mental health services on each campus, and it is critical to supporting and retaining students in their academic success journey.”
Student mental wellness continues to be a critical issue UWGB seeks to address. If you or anyone you know is struggling or at risk, please reach out for help by using any of the resources listed below.
Crisis Hotline: 888-531-2142
Schedule an appointment with the Wellness Center:
Green Bay and Marinette campus number: 920-465-2380
Manitowoc and Sheboygan campus number: 800-458-8183 or 920-924-0614
The Wellness Center website: https://www.uwgb.edu/wellness-center/
Kognito Training: https://www.uwgb.edu/wellness-center/kognito-training/
Mantra Health: https://www.mantrahealth.com/
