On Wednesday, Feb. 14, Sacred Heart University held a Colloquium entitled “Helping Friends and Helping Ourselves: A Heart to Heart on College Student Mental Health.” The colloquium was open to all Sacred Heart University students and provided information about helping those struggling with mental health, as well as resources to address situations involving mental health crises.
This event was hosted by associate professor of psychology Dr. Jessica Samuolis, Director of Prevention, Education & Early Intervention Services at SHU, Karen Flanagan, and the Student Wellness Education and Empowerment Team (S.W.E.ET.).
“My key takeaway from this colloquium was, it is important to monitor your own mental health and it is a normal experience to seek support in any way you or a friend may need it,” said sophomore Jordan Rice.
Recently SHU was awarded a $96,255 grant for mental health service initiatives by the Connecticut Office of Higher Education.
According to a Sacred Heart press release, the funds are meant to enable institutions to enhance prevention, early intervention, and access to care for students struggling with mental health issues.
“I think that it is important and exciting that SHU received a grant for mental health initiatives. It shows that mental health continues to be a priority and I am hopeful that more students will have access to information surrounding mental wellness,” said Jeffrey LaBella, Director of Counseling at the university.
The Maureen Hamilton Wellness Center on Park Avenue is a free, and confidential resource where students can seek support for individual purposes as well as group counseling. They are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays for counseling or students can call (203)-371- 7955 to make an appointment.
LaBella said, “We validate how difficult it can be to ask for help and share personal struggles. It is our hope that by creating these necessary conditions in our center, we can take small steps towards helping others feel more comfortable opening up about their challenges.”
The counseling center also provides services through S.W.E.E.T.. S.W.E.E.T. Peer Educators are a group of students that provide information and opportunities for other students seeking mental health care. They offer programs such as the Bar Exam, S.W.E.E.T. Dreams, Paws & Relax, Project Connect, and the Bandana Project.
Sacred Heart’s press release states that Project Connect is an evidence-based program that builds connections and community to combat loneliness and isolation. The Bandana Project is a national suicide prevention campaign and also under the guidance of the nonprofit organization Suicide Awareness Voices of Education.
Junior Emma Borland said, “Being a S.W.E.E.T. is rewarding. A lot of people struggle with mental health and don’t know how to overcome or deal with it. Us as peer educators are always there for each other and it is so nice knowing I have a community that has my back.”
Source: Tracy Deer-Mirek, Sacred Heart University.
James Geisler, the Executive Director of Wellness Services on campus, said the goal is to increase staff and faculty knowledge about mental health and teach them the skills they will need to respond when they identify a student in distress, according to a Sacred Heart press release.
LaBella said, “It is a privilege to work with students who come to the Counseling Center, and I think it is the most rewarding job in the world, but I may be biased. I often tell students that one of the greatest rewards in this work is the moment we can laugh about the things that used to stress us out.”
