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It's not a stretch to say that mental health is a topic on everyone's minds these days, especially in this post-pandemic period. The U of A provides many mental health resources for the university community. Counselling and Clinical Services (CCS) is a full-service clinic with psychologists, mental health consultants and psychiatrists. I recently had the chance to interview Kevin Friese, Assistant Dean of Students, Health & Wellness, from the Office of the Dean of Students, about some exciting changes coming to CCS.
What changes are happening at CCS to support the mental health of the U of A community?
There are a few big things coming to CCS - additional funding to increase the size of the mental health team, as well as an online booking system and single-session model being deployed later in the calendar year.
What is this funding, and where is it coming from?
This funding is being provided through the efforts of the Office of the Provost. It's operational funding meant to give our U of A community the tools to manage their mental health. Over the last few years, there has been significantly more demand for these mental health services at the university, and as our enrolment and community grow, this demand is projected to increase. The funding is more than a quick cash infusion or a one-off; it's a commitment by the university to support the needs of our community through the long term.
What will this funding do?
This new funding will be used to build out the CCS team with eight to nine new clinicians to better meet the needs of our community. We're now in the process of recruiting and hiring clinicians to expand support as quickly as we can. As we increase the size of the clinical team, we're paying special attention to the diversity of background and lived experience of the team to best align with the increasing diversity of our university community.
How will the new single-session model work?
Alongside the continued option for an initial consultation and ongoing counselling, we are also going to pilot the implementation of a session-as-you-go (single-session modality of treatment) that allows students to choose the treatment option that best fits their needs. They can choose to be assessed for appropriate interventions or receive a single session that is goal focused and intended to give them tangible strategies to support their mental health in the moment.
For instance, many of us encounter particularly tough times; a few examples could be deadlines piling up, a rejection on a program application, or a romantic relationship ending. This single-session model can offer some support in getting through one of these periods and help build out a mental health toolkit with coping strategies for other challenges in life.
How will this help U of A students?
These changes are intended to improve access to mental health support when and where students need it most. We're paying special attention to access to mental health support for equity-deserving members of our community.
Everything we do is evidence-informed, and we're always looking at best practices to stay focused on meeting the changing mental health needs of our student population.
What is being done to address the reality of an increasingly diverse U of A community?
CCS and the Office of the Dean of Students will work closely with the Vice-Provost Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the Vice-Provost (Indigenous Programming & Research) and Human Resource Services to implement recruitment strategies and internal training focused on meeting the needs of our increasingly diverse community. This strategy includes shifting how we recruit clinicians to attract clinicians with lived experience and skillsets that reflect the rich tapestry of our campus body. It also includes evidence-informed training to further build out the clinical training of our mental health team to provide access to supports that best fit the diverse needs of our students.
How can U of A students access these programs and services?
Today, students can access CCS via phone and in person. We're also anticipating the launch of an online booking system for the Fall 2023 term.
If you need help today, reach out to one of the U of A resources. This interview has dealt heavily with counselling, which is just one part of an overall mental health strategy. The Dean of Students health and wellness team includes access to a variety of mental health supports available at the University Health Centre, Wellness Supports and the Sexual Assault Centre, depending on the unique needs of the individual.