In this week’s Student Government Association (SGA) meeting, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Director Dr. Maureen Walls-McKay gave a presentation on the state of CAPS. The presentation answered questions asked during the Nov. 14 SGA meeting and opened a discussion on where mental health services stand on campus.
Walls-McKay started the presentation by talking on how CAPS is a respected service, accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS). According to its website, the fundamental purposes of IACS is to “encourage and aid these services throughout the United States and internationally to meet high professional standards, and to provide the profession and the public with information about those services.”
According to Walls-McKay, CAPS is under staffed with a 57 percent increase in needs for services at Longwood in the last five years, compared to the national average of 35 percent.
Senator Joseph Hyman stated student health only covers 1.2 percent of the budget, while athletics covers 14.2 percent, asking if CAPS believes that’s a problem.
Walls-McKay replied the budget issues are present around the country and if CAPS had more of the budget, it could be easier to have more staff.
Senator Madison Lowry asked if Walls-McKay felt CAPS can handle the caseload they are being given due to being under-staffed and under-resourced. Walls-McKay said CAPS is managing the caseload but does not feel CAPS is giving their best services because of the busy schedule. She said CAPS would need two more staff members to possibly prevent burnout among staff members.
Further on into the presentation, Walls-McKay stated students are reaching their mental health goals, which was a concern of SGA. She said individual counseling is used starting out and students are often switched to group counseling. According to Walls-McKay, group counseling is the therapy of choice among students and meets weekly rather than biweekly like individual counseling.
Walls-McKay also stated CAPS puts an emphasis on short-term counseling rather than long-term counseling. Students usually have four to five sessions on average before they feel they no longer need the services CAPS provides.
She also stated emergencies are defined as safety issues to the student or other students, and the main reasons for students needing services are depression, anxiety, stress, trauma history, family issues and eating disorders.
Freshman class president Brandon Bowen suggested the idea of a peer mediator, which would be a student to help other students. Walls-McKay said CAPS has considered the idea and is working toward utilizing the Counselor Education Program to have more students help in CAPS.
Senior Class President Praise Nyambiya asked why there is a greater need for counseling services in today’s generation. Walls-McKay responded saying there is a reduced stigma around counseling and that younger people today are more open to it. Parenting styles and increased anxiety are other factors given for the increase in need for counseling.
Hyman also asked if there have been instances where students have made up emergencies in order to be seen sooner by CAPS. Walls-McKay stated it’s happened and has sometimes even been encouraged by faculty and staff. She said those problems could be reduced if CAPS receives more staff.
During open forum, Freshman Class Representative Cameron Roblewsky suggested the idea of installing security cameras in dormitory hallways to prevent students from sneaking in other students.
President Kevin Napier said there would have to be a discussion with Residential and Commuter Life (RCL) about costs and procedures.
