Madi Kingsbury for the Arizona Daily Star
With a significant increase in the number of students seeking mental health resources, the University of Arizona Psychology and Counseling Services Center has stepped up to meet the need.
During a year of virtual learning during the pandemic, many students struggled to adjust. For others, returning to in-person learning has proven difficult.
There were several student suicides and in early October Professor Thomas Meixner was shot and killed on campus; a former student is charged with the murder.
After the Meixner shooting in October. On February 5, there was a 23.5% increase in the number of students seeking mental health services compared to the previous week, said Aaron Barnes, director of counseling and psychology services.
For the entire Fall 2022 semester, CAPS saw a 60% increase in the number of students seeking crisis care.
Counseling and Psych Services has increased the number of students it is able to see, as well as the number of staff. CAPS sees about 1,500 students per month, but the number fluctuates, said Rachel Abraham, assessment manager.
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“In 2019, our staff numbered around 40 people, but as of now it has grown to 70,” Barnes said.
The recent addition of on-campus crisis counselors means students now have access to emergency care, UA Provost Liesl Folks said.
University officials work alongside CAPS to ensure student well-being and understand that mental health is a huge aspect of academic success, Folks said.
“Providing comprehensive support services, including mental health resources, remains a high priority,” she said. “We know that students’ academic success is not only dependent on academic support, but also on ensuring that they have access to services that help meet their overall physical and mental well-being needs.
Urgent Care Style
Barnes listens to student feedback and has worked to change the direction of mental health services at the university.
The old service model, which began with a triage assessment, was hated by students and faculty. After the initial triage, the student was rescheduled and often with a different counselor than the one they started with. This did not guarantee the best quality of care for students, so Barnes sought a more advantageous model.
As of 2019, the old model has been replaced with one that is more responsive to student needs and is more of an urgent care style, according to Barnes, who said it’s more about letting students have a say. say in their processing to make sure it’s the right fit. Now students can book an appointment online and select the advisor that best suits their needs.
“A critical part of our services is making sure every student who needs guidance gets guidance,” Barnes said.
There are some limitations to the further expansion of the services that CAPS can offer. These include money, as well as space.
With the large increase in staff in a short time and the limited space in the building, many people share offices. Additional counselors have been placed in other cultural centers on campus to maximize space and provide more care.
Get a roundup of solutions reports from the Arizona Daily Star at linktr.ee/starsolutions. Video by Caitlin Schmidt/Arizona Daily Star.
“We will find a way” to overcome cost barriers
CAPS gets additional funding from various grants, but Barnes said it just wasn’t enough.
“My dream is to provide free services, but at the end of the day it’s a cost for us,” he said.
Barriers faced by students seeking help include concerns about insurance coverage, financial stress, and the inability to get an appointment in a timely manner. Barnes said CAPS provides options for students seeking services who are concerned about cost.
“Cost should never be a reason a student can’t come to CAPS for treatment, because we’ll find a way,” Barnes said.
Still, he acknowledges that CAPS and its services might not be ideal for all students.
UA psychology major Kimberly Hay looked into CAPS therapy in November 2021, but ultimately decided it wasn’t going to work for her.
“After the initial consultation, I wasn’t sure if I could get the care I needed,” Hay said, adding that she was also concerned about the cost, as her insurance was not accepted by the center. . “I would like to see them add more psychiatric services in the future. This would provide students with the care they need on a whole new level.
Barnes said he and the rest of the team were on the side of the students and it was easier to get things done when students advocated for change and resources. CAPS’ new operating model began with a focus group of students, he said.
“The student voice impacts our work here and I want the university to stand out and be the first in health care,” Barnes said. “I think we will get there through the students.”
Madi Kingsbury is a journalism student at the University of Arizona.
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