By Patrick Fergus
@Fergus5Fergus
By nearly every metric, student mental health is worsening.
According to Active Minds, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting mental health in young adults, 89 percent of college students experience a notable level of stress or anxiety every day.
Despite a substantial increase in dialogue about mental health, attempts to normalize discussions about problems and new types of resources on college campuses, many are still hesitant about opening up to strangers.
During October, which happens to be Depression Awareness Month, the Health Promotion Office at Springfield College is on top of providing every opportunity to those who need help.
Christine Johnston, the Director of Health Promotion at Springfield College, credits Active Minds and similar organizations for spreading awareness about the difficulties college students face. She knows, however, that professionals are rarely the foremost resource for students.
“We use those Active Minds statistics in the program all the time, and one of them found that 67 percent of college students, across the country, will tell a friend or a peer that they are suicidal before anyone else,” Johnston said. “Students are the first line of defense.”
Johnston, along with Adam Feit and Lauren Gray from the Counseling Center, runs the Pride Cares program, a peer-to-peer support network founded in the Spring of 2022. Since then, the number of the signature green tags around campus has grown considerably.
The fourth cohort, made up of about 27 students, was launched Sept. 27.
“The first cohort was really a pilot to see what it could be, but when I was invited to join the program for the next group, I saw it was really important, and it was something that the students wanted,” Johnston said.
Three sessions over as many weeks throw students into scenarios that equip them with improved active listening skills. Following the “ACT” model, these skills are tested.
The first session, “A” (Assess/Acknowledge), sharpens students’ abilities to listen and authenticate feelings and problems, allowing them to develop a relationship built on trust.
“C” or Care teaches a student an understanding of anxiety and proper language. The final session, “T” (Tell/Treatment), informs students about the resources available to share with their peers.
These sessions can be challenging. Two hours of tackling complex topics like suicidality can take a lot of effort to get through, but those who do complete the training won’t regret it, says Johnston.
“Students find the training exceptionally useful, but they are hard, and they are a lot of work,” Johnston said.
Moet Matthews, a junior criminal justice and psychology major, worked for Johnston as a “Student Advocates for Wellness” member and found Pride Cares a natural next step.
“I kept seeing that green tag everywhere,” Matthews said. “The exercises we are taught are very valuable because they show you how to approach the problem and find a solution.”
Expressing their deepest emotions with counselors or other adults can be a daunting task for many students, and that’s why Matthews thinks a peer support group can be a more effective tract.
“I feel like it’s definitely intimidating…and a peer is more likely, in my opinion, to know exactly what you’re going through,” Matthews said.
A community where the values of the program are embedded into the campus is the ultimate goal. Every student on campus would know someone who had been through the Pride Cares program, whether a friend, classmate, teammate or just someone on their floor.
The skills that Pride Cares instills in its representatives aren’t just valuable for college.
“It’s not just specific to Springfield,” Johnston said. “You’ll use them with your families, jobs, and everywhere you go.”
Photo courtesy of Health Promotion Office