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Questions & Answers
Sharon Mitchell is director of Counseling Services in the Division of Student Affairs.
What is the mission of Counseling Services?
Counseling Services assists students in resolving personal difficulties and in acquiring those skills, attitudes and resources necessary to both succeed in the college environment and pursue productive and satisfying lives. Counseling Services strives to contribute to the overall educational mission of the university by facilitating the academic, emotional, social and vocational development of students, and by serving as mental health consultants to the entire campus community. Respect for diversity and a commitment to students' personal growth are guiding principles in the work we do.
What services do you provide?
Many students meet with a counselor on a one-to-one basis (individual counseling) to work through personal concerns. Most students are seen for less than one semester. Group counseling offers support from peers and professional counselors. Groups allow for decreased isolation and enhanced learning about self and relationships in a trusting environment. Couples counseling works toward alleviating the strains in a close relationship. Crisis counseling and intervention are available in the form of same-day services and after-hours counselors on call. A counselor is available to meet with students in crisis when not being seen immediately could lead to serious consequences or seriously aggravate their existing condition. Examples of crisis situations include suicidal thoughts, recently witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event, thoughts about harming another person, concern about imminent danger to another person, inability to care for oneself, suspected hallucinations or delusions or the recent death of a loved one. Our work extends beyond our office. Educational workshops provide a structured presentation of information and skills practice appropriate to students' personal development and progress as college students. Our Web site has a wealth of self-help materials and online tools on a broad range of mental health topics. Consultation is available for campus groups and individuals—students, faculty or staff—who are concerned about the emotional well-being of someone else. We also provide referral to services on or off campus that might be helpful in addressing the concerns that students have. Counseling Services trains graduate students in psychology, social work, mental health counseling and psychiatry. Counseling Services collaborates with faculty on empirical research and theoretical papers, both here at UB and with other colleges and universities.
How does Counseling Services fit in with the Student Wellness Team?
Caring for all aspects of students’ well being—physical, intellectual, emotional, and social—contributes to success in college and beyond. This holistic approach is the foundation of the Student Wellness Team, comprised of Student Health Services, Wellness Education Services and Counseling Services. This collaborative, interdisciplinary team of caring professionals helps students optimize their wellness and empowers them to play an active role in their lifelong health. Wellness Education Services is the education and prevention arm of the Student Wellness Team. This office strives to create a campus community comprised of balanced and whole individuals by providing theory- and research-based, student-centered health-education programming to minimize or eliminate potential health risks. Programs are offered in such areas as stress management; alcohol and other drug prevention; sexual-assault prevention; gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender student health and wellness; and nutrition and exercise assessment. Health Services, the medical-care arm of the Student Wellness Team, offers free clinic visits with nurses and doctors. Counseling Services, the mental-health arm of the Student Wellness Team, helps students deal with personal crises and develop coping and problem-solving skills.
Is there still a stigma associated with seeking counseling?
People who are unfamiliar with counseling may hold onto old myths that seeking counseling is a sign of weakness or severe pathology, rather than an acknowledgement that talking to a nonjudgmental mental-health professional in a confidential environment is a sign of strength and courage that is likely to prevent small problems from becoming bigger and more unmanageable. One goal of our outreach and programming is to reduce stigma around help-seeking and to educate the campus about how to be supportive of others who are struggling emotionally.
What is the QPR Suicide Prevention Training Program?
The Student Wellness Team provides suicide-prevention programs and training to campus constituencies, including faculty, staff, students and parents to help foster a campus environment of self-care, connectedness and mental-health knowledge. QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) is a behavioral intervention that focuses on getting distressed individuals the help they need. It is intended to teach front-line people (resident advisors, academic advisors, friends, religious professionals, faculty/staff, parents, etc.) how to recognize the warning signs of emotional distress, including verbal, behavioral and situational clues. QPR provides direction as to how to question a person about behaviors of concern, including suicidal thoughts, how to persuade them to get help and where to refer the person for help.
What can faculty and staff do when they sense a student is in emotional distress? What are some of the warning signs that a student is in need of help?
People dealing with personal concerns or problems tend to show signs that they are struggling in some way. Faculty and staff can educate themselves on the warning signs of emotional distress; become familiar with the resources available on campus, such as the services of the Student Wellness Team; and increase their skill and comfort level in talking to a student who seems troubled. Faculty and staff can contribute to a caring campus community by reading the referral guide for faculty and staff on our Web site, by inviting Counseling Services staff to make a presentation at a departmental meeting, by attending QPR training (which can also be arranged for a specific department or workgroup) or by calling Counseling Services to consult when you are not sure how to respond to a student. If a student is being disruptive in class, threatening to harm others, or has explicitly stated an intention to kill him or herself if given the opportunity, please contact campus police for immediate assistance. Campus police can arrange for the student to get the mental-health intervention that is needed in order to ensure the safety of the student and others.