Emotional Safety on Campus

Along with physical safety and the need to feel comfortable on campus, college students should also feel safe emotionally.  If a student is in need of counseling or help in a time of emotional stress, institutions should provide support options for those students.  Transitioning from high school to college, or from a community college to a four-year university can be difficult for some students.  In addition to a new campus and new professors, students might also see changes in their friend groups, workload, and even in their interests. 

            The mental health and safety of students should be of utmost concern on college campuses.  The mental stability of students can have an impact on their schoolwork, relationships, and the campus organizations they join.  According to Steven Bushong, students also suffer from stress related to the economic recession that has cost people jobs and lifestyles in the United States over the last decade.  Students see little hope for finding a job after graduation and many would rather continue an education until the job market is more stable.  However, without taking out student loans, many of them cannot afford to stay in school.  The stress of this potentially life-altering decision sends many students over the edge.  Counseling centers offer advice and support to students who feel as if they have nowhere else to turn. 

Counseling Centers report being understaffed and overbooked.  Most public institutions have a ratio of one counselor to every 2,607 students.  These departments are also seeing budget cuts and less funding to provide services to students, despite the fact that counselors on campuses around the country provide staggering statistics and incredible success rates.  Operating at no cost to students, Counseling Centers provide professional services that might have life saving results. 

            Counseling Centers also serve students participating in the recruitment process and students who are experiencing troubles with their families, including divorce or death.  Counseling centers can also serve as a means of support for students looking for jobs or looking for direction in their life.  In offices across campus, LPCs are employed to work with students and staff members who might be experiencing stress or depression. 

            The role of counseling and emotional safety on our campuses is a growing problem, especially with the technology currently available to students.  As administrators, we must work to fight this growing problem by working with students and meeting them where they’re at. 

Sources: 

Campus Threat-Assessment Teams Get New Guidance From Mental-Health Groups
Campus Counseling Centers React to Recession-Related Stress Among StudentsCollege Counseling Centers Remain Understaffed Though Demand Is Strong, Survey FindsColleges Must Create 'Culture of Preparedness,' Campus-Safety Experts Say