Representatives from Student Health's Counseling and Psychological Services held an open screening for students on the third floor of Newcomb Hall yesterday. The event was open to all students seeking information about CAPS and provided them with resources for future consultations.
CAPS has conducted these screenings annually since 2000, and this session had the highest participation so far, attracting more than 80 visitors. Because of the high turnout, Student Health is considering sponsoring another screening during the spring semester.
Students were invited to speak with one of the five counselors about questions concerning themselves or a fellow student. The majority of the anonymous screenings dealt with issues of depression, anxiety and eating disorders.\nCAPS representatives believe these screenings offer a view of their services to students who would otherwise not reach out for counseling.
"They may be hesitant to come in normally, but they feel more comfortable in this informal setting," said Dr. Leonard Carter, assistant director and clinical coordinator at CAPS, who was one of the counselors providing their services yesterday.
The screenings allowed students to lay out their concerns and pose questions about psychological services. CAPS counselors then recommended further consultations, both at Student Health and other facilities.\nOrganizers noted that these short consultations are not necessarily sufficient encouragement for students to seek counseling in the future. Nevertheless, enough students from past screenings have sought future services that Student Health organizers view these efforts as successful.
These organizers saw this exposure in a public forum also as a useful outreach tool.
"This is a completely anonymous day to come and put real faces to the name of CAPS," Peer Health Educator Kate Sotos said.
CAPS counselors also emphasized that screenings were not limited to just Tuesday's event.
"We're always happy to consult with students at CAPS for free," Carter said. "We think of this as akin to a physical checkup, but for mental health."\nStudent Health organizers were pleased by the turnout this year and hope their efforts may increase mental-health awareness throughout the University.
"We're just trying to break down the stigma of mental health in college," Peer Health Educator Jade Sanders said.
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