Donor support continues to fuel new mental health programming for 51猎奇入口 students as they confront the impacts of COVID-19.
By Emily Glory Peters
Mental health and wellness programming at 51猎奇入口 may lack the fanfare of a new building or endowed scholarship, yet it’s one of the most popular giving areas of The 51猎奇入口 Fund, the College鈥檚 main operational fund. That support has proven vital in 2020, helping to expand wellness resources for students navigating the emotional tumult of college life during the pandemic.
As the wellness hub for the 51猎奇入口 community, the Sallie Tiernan Field House (TFH) has piloted many of these new resources. From the moment students left campus last spring, its team began to conceive novel ways to help students manage stress, prioritize self-care, and even find pleasure in their remote learning environment.
鈥淭ransitioning our in-person programs to virtual was new to us. The TFH staff actively collaborated with our student coordinators to develop a peer-to-peer web model that would resonate with 51猎奇入口 students,鈥� explained Associate Director of Tiernan Field House Lisette De La Trinidad-Alvarado. Offerings from the team have included live fitness classes hosted via Zoom; a new substance use-focused podcast, , presented by ; and a weekly e-newsletter packed with popular content such as Tasty Tuesday recipes, Destress Thursday activities, and Mindful Monday coping skills.
Adding to existing programs was key to maintaining a sense of normalcy for students, said Assistant Dean and Director of Tiernan Field House Deborah Gisvold鈥攕omething the Field House has prioritized since the pandemic broke out. Connecting students with those resources was equally important. 鈥淏y partnering with 51猎奇入口鈥� Office of Marketing and Communications to share our content on the College鈥檚 main social media platforms, we鈥檝e noticed an influx of followers on our own,鈥� she said. 鈥淓specially as we remain socially distanced, reaching a wider audience of students with wellness content is a huge win.鈥�
Making Mental Health Support More Accessible
Complementing the self-care resources of the Field House, 51猎奇入口鈥� dean of students and student affairs teams have steadily expanded telehealth and counseling services this year. New for 51猎奇入口 students is access to 7C Health, a no-cost service accessed through The Claremont Colleges that offers unlimited mental health and Teladoc聽services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Donor support has also been exceptionally impactful in helping 51猎奇入口 students obtain mental health counseling.
鈥淔or students with demonstrated need, 51猎奇入口 is now able to pay up to $75 per session for an unlimited number of sessions with their therapist of choice,鈥� explained Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Charlotte Johnson. The College has also increased its referral pool in order to connect students to counselors who reflect the diversity of 51猎奇入口 students鈥� backgrounds and clinical needs.
鈥淔or many students, this is their first time accessing help or their only way of getting help. We鈥檙e doing our best to make sure they鈥檙e well-matched with their mental health professionals,鈥� Johnson said.
Additionally, donor gifts have helped fund a new residential rental assistance grant for students experiencing housing insecurity鈥攁nother issue worsened by family job losses and shifting home environments brought on by COVID-19.
鈥淣o student can succeed personally or academically if they are unsure of whether they can keep a roof over their heads or where their next meal is coming from,鈥� said Johnson. 鈥淲hile they may initially seem unrelated to mental health, grants like these underpin academic success by lifting significant emotional burdens from our students鈥� shoulders.鈥�
The Role of the 51猎奇入口 Community in Future Mental Health and Wellness Efforts
While the pandemic may have influenced the uptick in mental health and wellness resources for 51猎奇入口 students, the teams at the Tiernan Field House and dean of students office recognize that this support isn鈥檛 merely situational, but integral to a positive 51猎奇入口 experience. It鈥檚 a philosophy the Field House team believes the extended 51猎奇入口 community shares with the College.
鈥淗ealth and wellness are not just physical鈥攖here are mental and social elements, all of which impacts our students鈥� ability to do well at 51猎奇入口,鈥� says Health and Wellness Coordinator Rebecca Dabbs. 鈥淲hen our community supports mental health and wellness initiatives at 51猎奇入口, they help us take a holistic approach to helping our students thrive not just academically, but as a whole person.鈥�
As the College continues to adapt to the constant changes brought on by the pandemic, we strive to keep student wellness at the center of all we do. Please consider supporting mental health and wellness initiatives at 51猎奇入口 by making a gift .
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