¾«¶«´«Ã½ continues to make mental health a key priority on its campuses with numerous support services, educational initiatives and collaborations with community partners.
Last year, SoLAcc received a grant of nearly $478,000 from the Board of Regents through an allocation from the Louisiana Department of Health. The college used those funds to develop a comprehensive Wellness Collective. Dr. Damian Glover, SoLAcc Executive Director for Student Services, said the project came at a time when students and employees face more challenges than ever.
“There are a multitude of situations that individuals deal with, including trauma, divorce, medical complications, problems at home or the death of a family member or friend,” Dr. Glover said. “We also see people struggle with anxiety, depression and coping with overall life changes.”
In addition to offering on-campus support and counseling, SoLAcc works with Beacon Connections and The Family Tree to provide additional services. Dr. Glover said those partnerships have helped strengthen the work of the Wellness Collective and created pathways for students and staff to receive long-term services.
“All of this work is definitely rooted in collaboration. By involving other organizations in Acadiana, we are able to provide a broader spectrum of services in a wider geographic area,” Dr. Glover said. “We also envision this work having benefits in the future. We want students to receive services while they are at SoLAcc as well as once they graduate. This has been a great way to connect them with resources they may be able to utilize in the future.”
SoLAcc has also enhanced its education to prepare current students to work in the mental health field in the future. Dr. Glover noted that all nursing programs have a mental health component in the curriculum, and faculty hope to incorporate technology such as virtual reality to replicate experiences students may face with real-life patients. In addition, educators have taken a closer look at programs such as psychology and sociology to ensure that students know how those degrees can lead to future careers and how the curricula can remain applicable in today’s society.
The Wellness Collective is also designed to meet immediate needs. Some grant funds have been used to supplement food costs for the student food pantries at all SoLAcc campuses. Students who are experiencing food insecurity can select up to three items per visit to a pantry location. Available items include breakfast foods, prepacked meals, canned goods, water and toiletries.
In addition to pantry locations, Dr. Glover noted that SoLAcc has emergency funds available for students who meet specific criteria, such as major health crises, the loss of housing from a natural disaster or other unforeseen events. The Foundation for SoLAcc provides these funds through private donations to help students stay in college and avoid pausing their education due to unexpected challenges.
Dr. Glover added that SoLAcc has received a separate grant from the Board of Regents. Those funds will be incorporated into the Wellness Collective to support students in addiction recovery and rehabilitation programs who want to continue their education during that process.
“We know that life events have a huge impact on a person’s mental health, and someone’s mental health is tied directly to their personal and professional success,” Dr. Glover said. “It affects their drive to get up and come to class or go to work. It affects their relationships with their loved ones. It affects every facet of their day. That’s why it’s so important to address those challenges and make mental health a priority.”
Since receiving the grant, SoLAcc has also made mental health a more regular part of campus life. Last year, the college hosted the ULead Student Leadership Conference, which focused on various aspects of well-being and attracted approximately 300 attendees. Each month, SoLAcc hosts lunch-and-learn events that address topics such as finances, spirituality, relationships and other factors that play a role in mental health. Dr. Glover said each event averages 40 to 60 attendees, both virtual and in-person.
“It’s encouraging to see employees and students being active and engaged with the resources that we have,” Dr. Glover said. “They are embracing opportunities to learn about how to take care of their health. We’ve definitely seen an increase in people utilizing all of the resources we provide.”
To learn more about our Counseling Services, visit our Counseling page.