SPCS mental health resources available to aid Chapman students through their college journey
Learn about the different mental health resources Chapman University offers students. Photo by EMI THOMAS, Staff Photographer
Mental health resources can be beneficial for college students, yet many students at Chapman University are often unaware of what is available to them.
The university’s Student Psychological Counseling Services (SPCS) offers screening appointments to determine options for students and start short-time therapy services. They are the main department on campus that assists with mental health.
Andrea Killian, a therapist and counselor at SPCS, shared her thoughts on the importance of mental health resources for college students.
“Mental health resource options for students are extremely important, and often, students don’t know where to go or how to use their student insurance or (are) having financial struggles and are concerned about access to care,” Killian told The Panther. “SPCS has all resources available on (its) website, advice in orientations, wellness table events, Furry Friends for Finals events and other departments and faculty referrals.”
Killian also explained the process that students must go through when signing up for SPCS services.
“Every student that signs up for SPCS is not only sent an email with information on all resources mentioned, but (they also) get an assigned follow-up phone call connection with someone from our department connecting with the student to get more info, answer questions and go over resources and the scheduling process verbally with students,” Killian said.
Another resource offered through SPCS is an outside resource list that details psychiatry and therapy options. The department also lists crisis lines on its website for after-hours crises and consultation for the Chapman community. The department provides Zoom drop-in hours for consultations, questions and concerns that can be scheduled through its website as well.
Chapman also has an Active Minds club. Active Minds is a national mental health organization that seeks to help students by providing mental health resources for their needs.
First-year Kierra Kohen is a part of the Doctor of Pharmacy program, and she is also the co-president of Chapman’s Active Minds club. She explained how the club can act as a resource for mental health.
“Locally, our chapter at Chapman is dedicated to educating students with resources to help them with any struggles they may be experiencing, promoting awareness of mental health and opening a conversation about mental health to reduce the stigma at Chapman and beyond,” Kohen said.
One way this club acts as a resource for Chapman students is through its peer support program. This program trains club members to listen to students struggling with their mental health. The members who go through this training are then connected to the students waiting for services from SPCS so that they’re able to talk to someone sooner. The system was adopted to help combat the wait for counseling services for SPCS since students have become frustrated.
Ashley Alexander, a senior double majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology, along with disability studies, is the other co-president of Active Minds. Alexander hopes to see a change in the mental health options available for students on campus.
“One of the biggest areas of improvement to mental health resources on campus is awareness since a lot of students do not know where to go or how to access help,” Alexander told The Panther. “When people are in moments of need or crisis, it is often hard to recall where to find services they need and what specifically each resource on campus provides.”
“When people are in moments of need or crisis, it is often hard to recall where to find services they need and what specifically each resource on campus provides.”
