Over the past five years, Longwood University’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has seen a 57 percent increase in students utilizing services, according to Dr. Maureen Walls-McKay, director of CAPS.
“CAPS serves as a primary resource for emotional or mental health issues,” Walls-McKay said. “Last year, we served 703 clients for a total of 2,300 sessions. That’s up from the previous year, each year it increases by a significant amount. Last year there was a nine percent increase.”
“Last year, we served 703 clients for a total of 2,300 sessions.” - Dr. Maureen Walls-McKay
According to Walls-McKay, the national average has risen by 35 percent across college campuses. She said despite the demand, the increased use of CAPS has positive implications.
“The increase in utilization is really a success story. We’ve spent decades in psychology reducing stigma around mental health issues. We’re celebrating that students are seeking services,” said Walls-McKay.
CAPS, located on the top floor of the Health and Fitness Center, provides access to both group and individual counseling.
“We provide primarily individual and group counseling to students,” Walls-McKay said. “We have a team of four psychologists and four counselors in training.”
There are currently four groups and individual counseling: the stress and anxiety management group, the Advocacy, Communication and Transition (ACT) group, the understanding self and others group and the let’s talk family group.
The ACT group is for students registered with the office of disability resources, according to Lindsay Farrar, the Office Disability Resources director.
Longwood's Counseling and Psychological Services saw demand increase by nine percent from the 2016-17 year.
“The first appointment is what we call an initial consultation,” Walls-McKay said. “That’s a 30-minute appointment, where our job (is) to really listen to what’s happening in a student’s life that prompted them to make the appointment. We also listen for how CAPS or maybe another resource at Longwood could be of help to them.”
After the initial consultation, an intake appointment is scheduled.
“That’s when we gather kind of more information about their family history and their emotional history and their treatment history,” said Walls-McKay.
Individual sessions are scheduled every other week. For students seeking additional help between individual sessions, group sessions are recommended.
“Students sometimes initially resist the idea of group counseling, but once they get into group, they quickly feel the benefits of groups,” Walls-McKay said.
She said there aren’t wait lists for scheduling individual sessions and groups are formed as there are enough clients to fill them. The average wait time last year to get an appointment was six days, including weekends.
Nonetheless, the biggest challenge facing CAPS is increased demand, followed by psychiatric care, according to Walls-McKay.
“The challenge mostly is the increased demand,” she said. “It’s been addressed, CAPS has been granted a new position that we’re thrilled about.”
Walls-McKay also explained that members of the Longwood community outside of CAPS have noticed the resource situation they are undergoing.
“Over time, faculty and staff and students have noticed that we’re under resourced at CAPS,” she said. “Last semester, I was really pleased, SGA asked me to come and educate them because they kind of sensed there was increased need.”
The Student Government Association (SGA) is currently drafting a resolution to require that all course syllabi include information about mental health resources on campus.
“Students noticed the need (for more staff) and advocated on our behalf,” said Walls-McKay.
Currently, CAPS is searching for another mental health professional to add to their staff.
