Many college students nationwide are hindered by the struggles of mental health and the availability of resources to help them. The COVID-19 pandemic has played a large role in the increase in mental health struggles for students here at Georgia Southern too.
According to The Washington Post, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more than 10 percent of adults surveyed in June 2020 had seriously considered suicide within the past month. This is more than double the survey two years prior. The loneliness and lack of human contact plays a big role in these issues.
“I think that once I graduated high school and I was unable to have a normal freshman year experience, my emotions got the best of me,” Ansley Clark, a Georgia Southern University sophomore said. “I felt like I missed out on normal experiences like going to the dining hall or library to meet friends.” She elaborated that her new relationships dwindled quickly as a result of the long break from in-person classes.
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| Ansley Clark, Georgia Southern University sophomore |
Clark decided to visit Statesboro Psychiatrists Associates for an evaluation on her mental health, because the campus counseling center was completely booked for two months. When she was able to get counseling from the university, she left frustrated with the result
“I didn't feel as if I got the right diagnosis and they weren't super helpful,” Clark said. She felt like the counselling center could have assisted her more since they are used to working with other students. “He didn't ask me the questions I felt like I needed to be asked as a student, they were super basic and general questions,” Clark said. She added that “it became more expensive to get help because I had to go off campus for an evaluation.”
Zoi Woods, a freshman exercise science major, expressed her concern for minority groups not having enough mental health support.
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| Zoi Woods, Georgia Southern University freshman. |
“I actually think the way they handle mental health is really good,” Woods said. “Only thing I would say is for minority groups to have more support”.
Despite the praise from Woods, complaints about the counseling centers' availability persist. “I think they have all the necessary resources available; we have a fantastic counseling center with the most amazing staff ready to help,” Alexis Szaro said, a Georgia Southern University graduate and current third grade teacher.
“Students are just doing the bare minimum to pass,” Szaro said. She personally has noticed a change in students being able to remain attentive since the pandemic. “I can understand why though, this has been hard on all of us,” Szaro continued, “since I am aware of the mental health struggles amongst my students, I am decreasing the workload and working with students on a base to base situation.”
“In theory, yes they are easily accessible, however the long waiting lines make it that much harder to receive help,” Szaro said. Szaro also expressed concern with the appointment based system that the counseling center currently offers students.
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| The Counseling Center at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. |
New client appointments at the counseling center are currently booked for the rest of the semester, which is typical for this time of the fall term.
A brief 30 minute check in is always available to make sure students have support systems and are aware of other resources for when they are unable to schedule an appointment with the counseling center.
The counseling center has also partnered with Christie Campus health to assist their overflow of students needing support and evaluations. If you are a full time student at Georgia Southern University, you may utilize their services until health services can assist you.
Svrluga, Susan, and Nick Anderson. “College Students Struggle with Mental Health as Pandemic Drags On.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 16 Oct. 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/10/14/college-suicide-mental-health-unc/.
Ansley Clark: ansley8507@gmail.com
Alexis Szaro: (678)977-1801
Zoi Woods: zw02282@georgiasouthern.edu
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