Colleagues,
As many of us know from first-hand experience, the level of stress, anxiety and pressure that many students are experiencing is truly unprecedented.
Recent studies have shown that over 60 percent of college students meet the criteria for at least one mental health concern and three quarters are experiencing moderate to severe psychological distress.
College can be stressful even in the best of times, but with the unmitigated factors that have arisen over the past three years, resources to combat our students’ mental health issues have been uniquely tested, here on our own campus and at colleges and universities across the country.
The good news is that mental health is finally being recognized as a very real health concern among young people. The stigma that once kept many from seeking help for depression, anxiety, addiction and other mental health concerns is falling away.
As you know, Hudson Valley offers a variety of services to support students in times of stress, such as academic coaching, career counseling and mental health counseling. We have dedicated, professional clinicians in our Counseling and Wellness Services office who work every day to guide students through a variety of mental health issues.
Now, in addition to those on-campus services mentioned above, the college has added another wellness component for both students and employees.
Thanks to a new agreement with the Capital EAP, students and employees have access to a range of mental health tele-services and counseling, at no cost. The best way to access these services is to call the EAP (518-465-3813) and identify yourself as a student or employee of Hudson Valley Community College. The EAP staff will guide the individual through the intake process and help them find the best resources for them, including mental health screening, counseling and even life coaching.
The college has long partnered with Capital EAP for a variety of training and counseling services, and our newly-expanded agreement broadens the mental health counseling services that we can take advantage of as students, faculty and staff of the college.
As we begin a new semester, faculty and staff are urged to be mindful of our students’ mental health and take the opportunity to make them aware of our on-campus professionals and new EAP-related services. Let’s encourage each other to find help when it’s needed.
Sincerely,
Roger Ramsammy, Ph.D.
President