NC State adds counselors, offers Telehealth support after campus suicides
NC State has added eight counselor positions, expanded its network of off-campus providers and inked a new contract to provide free Telehealth support in the aftermath of four students suicides in the fall semester.
A fifth on-campus suicide was reported on Feb. 11.
Officials say three of the five deaths by suicide have been students enrolled in the College of Engineering.
Of the eight new clinicians, six counselors are embedded within various colleges including two in the College of Engineering.
"You don’t know how bad it gets until something like that happens," freshman Jillian Tropnas said. "It’s definitely discouraging and you want to check up on the people more.”
On Thursday, NC State canceled classes for a Wellness Day — a chance for students to relax, recharge and focus on mental health. This Wellness Day was the first such day formally added to the academic calendar but was timely after a student was found dead this past Saturday in Sullivan Hall.
"We need a brain break once in a while," NC State freshman Allie Richards said. "I'm just going to go to the gym with some friends."
Richards said she understands the pressure of adjusting to college life post-pandemic.
“A lot of kids were at home and there wasn’t as many expectations with homework and all that, and jumping back into a college setting, it’s a lot to handle," Richards said.
In the fall, struggling students complained of 2-month wait times for a counseling appointment on campus.
Monica Osburn, executive director of the Counseling Center and Prevention Services, said wait times have improved and students who need acute care can reserve a same-day counseling session.
"We want to be able to meet students where they are to be able to connect with them," Osburn said.
WRAL News asked Osburn if she thought the previous amount of on-campus mental health support was inadequate.
"I’ll be honest, it’s never going to be adequate," Osburn said. "There’s no way we are going to be able to have all of the supports needed for all of the students here on campus.”
The university budgeted nearly $400,000 to provide every students with 12 free Telehealth counseling sessions through AcademicLiveCare. So far, only 93 students have taken advantage.
“There is the barrier of just some people don’t want to do therapy online and that’s perfectly fine. If you are willing to do therapy online, I think it's a fantastic resource," said Eleanor Lott.
Lott is one of two students on the school’s Student Mental Health Task Force that includes more than 26 faculty and staff members.
The task force has been charged with producing a report that analyzes the state of mental health on campus and provides recommendations for policy changes.
The report, which was originally supposed to be complete by Jan. 30, is expected to be released sometime next week. University officials say the document is lengthy and has taken longer to compile than first thought.
An online petition is calling for its immediate release.
“We are ready to see those changes be implemented, and if not, holding them accountable for those changes," said graduate student Benjamin Pulgar-Guzman.
Lott said she is also ready to see changes that will make students feel a sense of belonging on campus.
“It’s the small things that will really build community,” she said. “Building community on campus is something that is really important to me, and I think will solve a large part of the problem.”
If you're having suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, call or text 988. Veterans can press “1” after dialing 988 to connect directly to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. For texts, veterans should continue to text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.
