On-campus mental illness issues unique
By Dick Durbin
RRSTAR.COM
Posted Apr 17, 2008 @ 10:59 PM
This week, our nation marked the anniversary of the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech that took 32 lives and wounded 17 other people. Just two months ago, our state was stunned to witness a similar tragic shooting at Northern Illinois University in which 5 students were killed and 17 were wounded.
I cannot imagine the magnitude of heartbreak and pain for friends and families of those killed or the trauma borne by those who survived these tragedies. As we mourn the loss of so many promising young lives, it is important also to learn from these tragedies.
So what are those lessons?
The first is to consider the tortured mind of the shooter. Mental illness is an illness, not a curse. It can and should be treated. Many who receive appropriate counseling and medication lead normal, stable and happy lives. But our laws ignore this reality. We have created legal and financial obstacles to appropriate care. This year, for the first time in a decade, the U.S. Senate has passed a bill to give mental health parity with physical health under the law. The House of Representatives also has passed legislation, and we are negotiating a compromise to fulfill the promise of health parity for millions facing mental health problems.
But the challenge of mental health on our college campuses is unique. Many mental illnesses manifest themselves in this period when young people leave the security of home and regular medical care. The responsibility for the students' well-being shifts many times to colleges and universities struggling with limited resources.
The situation is growing worse. Studies show that 10 percent of college students have contemplated suicide and 45 percent have felt so depressed that it was difficult to function.
Colleges also are encountering students who 10 to 20 years ago would not have been able to attend school because of mental illness, but who can do so today because of advances in treatment of such illness.
To meet the increased need, many schools have tried to increase mental-health education and outreach efforts. But the ratio of students to counselors is growing. Currently, there is only one counselor for every 2,000 students on our college campuses.
NIU and Virginia Tech taught us that mental-health parity and better campus counseling services are not only critical in preventing these tragedies, but in dealing with the aftermath. The victims were not just those who were killed or injured in the shootings. Others have mental scars that are less obvious than bullet wounds but often slower to heal.
The emotional trauma experienced by many students, faculty and families might require years of therapy and counseling.
Finally, when the unthinkable does happen, as it did at Virginia Tech and NIU, we need to respond quickly and effectively to the immediate and long-term needs of the affected college community.
Our colleges and law-enforcement agencies have made great strides in preparing for and responding to active-shooter situations, progress reflected in the admirable response to the NIU shootings.
But we also need to view these violent tragedies on our campuses for what they are — catastrophes, like natural disasters, that require a sustained and coordinated recovery effort in the months that follow.
We have a federal agency to deal with hurricanes, earthquakes and floods. But there is no central federal resource to help guide college communities through the recovery process. In the days and weeks after the shootings in DeKalb, NIU officials found themselves being led in circles through the bureaucracies at the federal departments of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services, not to mention numerous state agencies. These entities, all of whom were well-meaning, often didn't talk to one another, forcing school officials and victims' families to navigate a red-tape maze to find answers to even their simplest questions.
Just as we expect a coordinated emergency response to a flood or tornado, we need to ensure that victims, their families and college communities are able to receive similar assistance in the wake of these personal disasters.
Reflecting on the loss of his own son, the well-known minister the Rev. William Sloan Coffin once said, "When parents die, they take with them a portion of the past. But when children die, they take away the future as well." As we mourn those lost at Virginia Tech, NIU and other schools across the country, we must learn from these incidents, work to avoid them and improve our response when they do occur.
Dick Durbin, a Democrat, is a U.S. senator from Illinois.
Licensed under Creative Commons
<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/">Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Generic</a>
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Original Source:
<a href="http://www.rrstar.com/opinions/x1498098116">http://www.rrstar.com/opinions/x1498098116</a>
Dick Durbin
2008-04-19
Kacey Beddoes
eng
Anniversary Reactions to a Traumatic Event
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:00:00 -0400
From: Unirel@vt.edu
To: Multiple recipients <LISTSERV@LISTSERV.VT.EDU>
Subject: Anniversary Reactions to a Traumatic Event
Here is some information from the university's Cook Counseling Center and the university Employee Relations Office.
Source: National Mental Health Information Center of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
Anniversary Reactions to a Traumatic Event:
The Recovery Process Continues
As the anniversary of a disaster or traumatic event approaches, many survivors report a return of restlessness and fear. Psychological literature calls it the anniversary reaction and defines it as an individual's response to unresolved grief resulting from significant losses. The anniversary reaction can involve several days or even weeks of anxiety, anger, nightmares, flashbacks, depression, or fear. On a more positive note, the anniversary of a disaster or traumatic event also can provide an opportunity for emotional healing. Individuals can make significant progress in working through the natural grieving process by recognizing, acknowledging, and paying attention to the feelings and issues that surface during their anniversary reaction. These feelings and issues can help individuals develop perspective on the event and figure out where it fits in their hearts, minds, and lives.
It is important to note that not all survivors of a disaster or traumatic event experience an anniversary reaction. Those who do, however, may be troubled because they did not expect and do not understand their reaction. For these individuals, knowing what to expect in advance may be helpful.
Common anniversary reactions among survivors of a disaster or traumatic event include:
Memories, Dreams, Thoughts, and Feelings: Individuals may replay memories, thoughts, and feelings about the event, which they can't turn off. They may see repeated images and scenes associated with the trauma or relive the event over and over. They may have recurring dreams or nightmares. These reactions may be as vivid on the anniversary as they were at the actual time of the disaster or traumatic event.
Grief and Sadness: Individuals may experience grief and sadness related to the loss of income, employment, a home, or a loved one. Even people who have moved to new homes often feel a sense of loss on the anniversary. Those who were forced to relocate to another community may experience intense homesickness for their old neighborhoods.
Fear and Anxiety: Fear and anxiety may resurface around the time of the
anniversary, leading to jumpiness, startled responses, and vigilance about safety. These feelings may be particularly strong for individuals who are still working through the grieving process.
Frustration, Anger, and Guilt: The anniversary may reawaken frustration and anger about the disaster or traumatic event. Survivors may be reminded of the possessions, homes, or loved ones they lost; the time taken away from their lives; the frustrations with bureaucratic aspects of the recovery process; and the slow process of rebuilding and healing. Individuals may also experience guilt about survival. These feelings may be particularly strong for individuals who are not fully recovered financially and emotionally. Avoidance: Some survivors try to protect themselves from experiencing an anniversary reaction by avoiding reminders of the event and attempting to treat the anniversary as just an ordinary day. Even for these people, it can be helpful to learn about common reactions that they or their loved ones may encounter, so they are not surprised if reactions occur.
Remembrance: Many survivors welcome the cleansing tears, commemoration, and fellowship that the anniversary of the event offers. They see it as a time to honor the memory of what they have lost. They might light a candle, share favorite memories and stories, or attend a worship service.
Reflection: The reflection brought about by the anniversary of a disaster or traumatic event is often a turning point in the recovery process. It is an opportunity for people to look back over the past year, recognize how far they have come, and give themselves credit for the challenges they surmounted. It is a time for survivors to look inward and to recognize and appreciate the courage, stamina, endurance, and resourcefulness that they and their loved ones showed during the recovery process. It is a time for people to look around and pause to appreciate the family members, friends, and others who supported them through the healing process. It is also a time when most people can look forward with a renewed sense of hope and purpose. Although these thoughts, feelings, and reactions can be very upsetting, it helps to understand that it is normal to have strong reactions to a disaster or
traumatic event and its devastation many months later. Recovery from a disaster or traumatic event takes time, and it requires rebuilding on many levels - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. However, with patience, understanding, and support from family members and friends, you can emerge from a disaster or traumatic event stronger than before.
If you are still having trouble coping, ask for help. Consult a counselor or mental health professional.
At Virginia Tech, students should contact the Cook Counseling Center at 231-6557. Faculty and staff can contact the Employee Assistance Center at 866-725-0602 or Employee Relations at 231-9331.
- end -
University Relations (unirel@vt.edu)
2008-04-14
Brent Jesiek
eng
Counseling offered in after-effect
Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: News
Matthew K. Ing
Ka Leo Editor in Chief
Two days ago, the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, to many students, felt like a relatively safe academic environment. But after Monday's massacre at Virginia Polytechnic University, mixed feelings have filled the campus.
Delcey Pa, a UHM freshman planning to major in business, first learned about the shooting from friends late Monday morning.
"Since I heard about the shooting, in the back of my mind, as I walk around, I know something like that could happen, but I really don't think it would," Pa said. "I'm just glad I wasn't there."
Out of 20 students interviewed by Ka Leo, all 20 felt that there was a possibility - though highly unlikely - that an incident similar to the Virginia Tech shooting could occur at UHM.
"In Hawai'i, we have more family and more aloha, I guess," Pa said. "In the mainland, it's a whole different perspective and whole separate world. But it could happen."
Sophomore Mark Villegas agreed that the chances of a shooting were highly unlikely, but he said that the incident prompted him to reanalyze his campus safety.
"It (the shooting) made me curious, what would have happened at UH," Villegas said. "If there were two shootings in the dorms, would security be able to prevent it from happening somewhere else on campus?"
On Monday afternoon, UHM interim Chancellor Denise Konan offered her condolences and support to students through various campus resources in a mass e-mail.
Among the resources mentioned was the Counseling and Student Development Center, "a University service that provides a variety of counseling and testing services for students and uses a holistic approach to promote wellness and personal success," according to the e-mail. The Counseling Center, located in the Queen Lili'uokalani Student Service Center, Room 302, offers free and confidential services to students.
Jeff Brooks-Harris, PhD, a psychologist and counselor with the Counseling Center for 12 years, said that he hasn't seen an influx of appointments since Monday's incident, but he said that's typical in an event such as this.
"Most students are not going to choose to go to a counselor," Brooks-Harris said. "It's probably much more important they talk to each other."
Just as counselors urged students at Virginia Tech's convocation service yesterday, the American Psychological Association suggests as a first step in reacting to the shooting to "talk about it."
Psychologists from college campuses around the nation compiled a Web site yesterday with resources on how to deal with the psychological after-effects of the shooting, available at http://www.apa.org.
Other recommendations include limiting the amount of news coverage you expose yourself to, helping others do something productive and giving yourself time to grieve or experience a full range of reactive emotions.
Brooks-Harris said that, just as after Sept. 11, students in Hawai'i experience mainland tragedy at a less severe level than those did in New York or New Jersey.
"But in any crisis, whether it's a plane crashing into the World Trade Center or a professor committing suicide or a shooting in Blacksburg, it brings things closer to home," he said. "When we have our own preexisting fears and doubts, these things could bring them up, causing people to feel unsafe."
The Counseling and Student Development Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and always has at least one psychologist on call. Students should call 956-7927 to make an appointment.
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Original Source: The Voice - Ka Leo
<a href="http://media.www.kaleo.org/media/storage/paper872/news/2007/04/18/News/Counseling.Offered.In.AfterEffect-2848728.shtml">http://media.www.kaleo.org/media/storage/paper872/news/2007/04/18/News/Counseling.Offered.In.AfterEffect-2848728.shtml</a>
<a href="http://media.www.kaleo.org/media/storage/paper872/news/2007/04/18/News/Counseling.Offered.In.AfterEffect-2848728-page2.shtml">http://media.www.kaleo.org/media/storage/paper872/news/2007/04/18/News/Counseling.Offered.In.AfterEffect-2848728-page2.shtml</a>
Matthew K. Ing
2008-03-12
Kacey Beddoes
Kumari Sherreitt <editor@kaleo.org>
eng
Counseling center open for traumatized students
In brief
By: Trevor Davis | News Reporter
Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: News
The University Counseling Center is available free of charge for students suffering from stress or trauma related to Monday's Virginia Tech shooting in which a gunman killed 32 people and himself on the Blacksburg, Va., campus. The counseling center has drop-in hours and a crisis hotline to help University students.
"When incidents such as this occur, it naturally raises concerns for everyone about the safety of students in our own schools and educational institutions," said George Pernsteiner, chancellor for the Oregon University System, in a statement.
The counseling center hasn't received an influx of calls related to the shooting, but has received more media attention, said Shelly Kerr, assistant director for the University Counseling and Testing Center. Kerr addressed the media, including three local television stations, Tuesday afternoon.
"I don't think we'll have hundreds of hundreds calls," Kerr said. "If this were to happen in Oregon or the Pacific Northwest, it'd have more of an impact on the numbers."
Kerr said counselors will typically try to help students understand why they're feeling a certain way.
"What we can do is make sense of what they're feeling," Kerr said. "They're usually normal feelings, but they just feel out of control."
Those who suffered trauma before may be more affected because the incident could trigger past thoughts, Kerr said. Those who know someone in Virginia or are Iraq War veterans are particularly vulnerable.
Kerr recommends students talk to friends, faculty and family members to share feelings and experiences.
Those who experience overwhelming nervousness or lingering sadness that adversely affects school or job performance and personal relationships should seek professional help immediately, according to the American Psychological Association.
Drop-in hours at the counseling center are from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the crisis phone line is (541) 346-4488. Contact the counseling center during regular hours at (541) 346-3227 or evenings and weekends at (541) 346-4488.
- Trevor Davis
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Original Source: Daily Emerald
<a href="http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2007/04/18/News/Counseling.Center.Open.For.Traumatized.Students-2849101.shtml">http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2007/04/18/News/Counseling.Center.Open.For.Traumatized.Students-2849101.shtml</a>
Trevor Davis
2008-02-19
Kacey Beddoes
Judy Riedl <jriedl@uoregon.edu>
eng
WVU looks at safety plans
Issue Date:Wednesday April 18, 2007
Section: HeadLine News Section
By Jon Offredo, Staff Writer
What if it happened here?
Would West Virginia University be prepared for a horrific incident such as the tragedy that occurred at Virginia Tech on Monday?
The answer is yes, University officials say.
"Blacksburg is a lot like Morgantown, and if it could happen there, it could happen anywhere," said West Virginia University spokeswoman Becky Loftstead.
"In light of this, we are going to review the emergency plan and look at it intensely to make sure that all of our 'I's are dotted and 'T's are crossed to make sure any event like this is covered," Loftstead said.
Prior to the massacre in Blacksburg, WVU officials were in the process of finding vendors to provide University-wide text messaging services in the event of an emergency, Loftstead said.
Currently, the University would broadcast announcements on MIX and forward them to WVU.edu e-mail addresses as it does when canceling class during the winter.
Officials were also looking into the idea of large messaging centers that would be visible in high traffic areas.
Dr. Dan Della-Giustina, a WVU professor and expert in public safety, also suggested the implementation of a University-wide alarm system.
"My thought is to develop an air raid-like signal, similar to the ones during World War II," Della-Giustina said. "It would sound a siren, when the students would hear this, regardless of where they were, they would know to stay put and be on lock down.
Yet, despite new proposals, University officials have always had a plan for the instant disaster were to strike WVU.
If WVU were faced with the same situation that arose in Blacksburg, students would be urged to remain where they were and focus on protecting themselves.
In what Roberts called an active shooter situation, DPS members have been trained in a program called "Active Shooter," and a team is also trained in Rapid Response. To correspond with the DPS response, Morgantown Police Department, West Virginia State Police and Morgantown Fire Department also became involved in the situation.
In the Virginia Tech scenario, students and families were reunited at the alumni center in Blacksburg, but if the situation were to arise in Morgantown, that may not be the best protocol.
"If you look at WVU, there is no single road. We are an expansive town," Roberts said. "We work with Morgantown Police Department, and that is a benefit, to say that there is a central location is not what we are advocating."
The ideal plan would be for students and faculty to stay in place, secure doors and to wait for the green light.
After a traumatizing event, students are likely to need some kind of counseling to deal with the shocking aftermath.
"It's crisis counseling, and always you need to assess the student's concern, is there some sense of immediacy, friend or family involved," said Dr. Peter Kahn of the Carruth Center. "With any situation where there's been some kind of a loss, you want to sit with the person and let them talk freely and open up about it."
jon.offredo@mail.wvu.edu
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Original Source: The Daily Athenaeum
<a href="http://www.da.wvu.edu/show_article.php?&story_id=27578">http://www.da.wvu.edu/show_article.php?&story_id=27578</a>
Jon Offredo
2008-02-18
Kacey Beddoes
Leann Ray <Leann.Ray@mail.wvu.edu>
eng
Virginia Tech panel recommends security solutions for colleges
Issue Date:Friday September 7, 2007
Section: HeadLine News Section
By Kellen Henry, Staff Writer
Many students gathered for candlelight vigils and wore ribbons in support of Virginia Tech after the April 16 shooting. While most students did not fear for their lives on campus, they realized such a tragedy could just as easily occur in Morgantown.
Last week, a panel appointed by Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine reported findings on the shooting rampage by student Seung-Hui Cho that killed 32 people in Blacksburg, Va.
The report presented more than 70 recommendations to advise law enforcement, school officials and medical personnel.
They also intended to help other colleges choose proper security solutions for their own campuses.
This week, West Virginia University officials announced a plan to send mass text messages in an emergency. The University will also provide better quality lighting in key pedestrian areas such as sidewalks between the Downtown Library Complex, the Mountainlair, the PRT and residence halls.
The panels' report criticized Virginia Tech's emergency response plan because it lacked guidelines for a shooter scenario and did not allow police to play a major role in emergency decision making.
"We don't see that as an issue here at WVU. As the first responders here, it makes sense for us to have an active role," said Chief Bob Roberts of the University Department of Public Safety.
Administrators here began revising its policies in December 2005 to align it with the federal Department of Homeland Security's National Incident Management System. The University's new plan will be unveiled in October said Becky Lofstead, executive director of internal communications.
It will include emergency training for students and staff and job action checklists. There is a Web site planned for relaying emergency information, Lofstead said.
At Virginia Tech, police had no means of sending emergency alerts themselves and also failed to warn the administration that a gunman could still be loose on campus.
The initial emergency e-mail and phone alerts to students and staff came too late and were too vague to be effective, the report found.
"Warning the students, faculty and staff might have made a difference," the panel wrote. "So the earlier and clearer the warning, the more chance an individual had of surviving."
With a large student body sprawling between two campuses, WVU sees the dire need to refine its emergency alert system.
The Tech panel advised a multi-level alert, for instance alert sirens that signal students to check texts or e-mails for emergency updates.
The Virginia Tech shootings also reinforced the importance of solid mental health care for students and faculty.
The panel found that university and health officials did not coordinate information and intervene efficiently after concerns surfaced about the shooter.
"No one knew all the information and no one connected all the dots," the report said.
WVU's Carruth Center for Counseling already tries to communicate information while protecting privacy, said director Catherine Yura. A crisis committee joins counselors with resident life, police and student affairs representatives.
"What we do is discuss situations that come up and try to understand if it is something to be concerned about," Yura said.
kellen.henry@mail.wvu.edu
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Original Source: The Daily Athenaeum
<a href="http://www.da.wvu.edu/show_article.php?&story_id=29759">http://www.da.wvu.edu/show_article.php?&story_id=29759</a>
Kellen Henry
2008-02-18
Kacey Beddoes
Leann Ray <Leann.Ray@mail.wvu.edu>
eng
WVU Reaction
Issue Date:Tuesday April 17, 2007
Section: HeadLine News Section
In response to the shootings at Virginia Tech, West Virginia University President David Hardesty said Monday afternoon in a statement that the "campus police are alert to the incident and are monitoring the situation as it unfolds. If deemed necessary, increased coverage by our campus police will be initiated."
Students in need of counseling are encouraged to visit the Carruth Center in the Student Services Center next to the Mountainlair. The center, open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., offers walk-in counseling services and an after-hour emergency phone consultation service (293-4431). On Monday, the center extended its walk-in services to 8 p.m.
A candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the shootings will be held Wednesday at 9 p.m. in Woodburn Circle on the Downtown Campus. The University community and the general public are invited to attend.
The WVU United Methodist Student Movement will sponsor an interfaith vigil today at 9 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms.
— cls
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Original Source: The Daily Athenaeum
<a href="http://www.da.wvu.edu/show_article.php?&story_id=27564">http://www.da.wvu.edu/show_article.php?&story_id=27564</a>
cls
2008-02-18
Kacey Beddoes
Leann Ray <Leann.Ray@mail.wvu.edu>
eng
STAFF EDITORIAL: Providing Comfort
By
PUBLISHED APRIL 17, 2007
On Monday morning, 32 students at Virginia Tech were killed and about 30 others injured by a shooting at the hands of a fellow student. This tragedy raises questions about the nature of events like this and what Columbia might do in a similar situation. Yet the administration was slow in publicly responding to the event, and when it did, it failed to address the crucial question about what the University's response plan would be. The University should have expressed its sympathy, explained the counseling options available to students, and addressed safety concerns on Monday when the shootings occurred.
The tragedy hit especially close to home on campus-first, because the victims were fellow students, and second, because many students here have friends and acquaintances at Virginia Tech. The University's immediate response should have been to give some notification telling students where they could go for counseling if desired. Tonight a candlelight vigil will be held on Low Steps for the victims, and the Counseling and Psychological Services office will be open until 11 p.m. for students who need its services. This is a good step on the University's part, but it should have made those resources available more quickly and opened CPS for extended hours.
Questions have also been asked about how effective Virginia Tech officials were in securing the campus after the first round of shooting. Naturally, these questions raise concerns about Columbia's own emergency management plan and the safety and security of its campus. University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann and Dartmouth College President James Wright have released statements offering condolences to the Virginia Tech community and providing information about the security of their respective campuses, as well as publicizing the counseling services that they have available. University President Lee Bollinger should follow suit and send an e-mail to the entire University explaining the details of its response plan.
Obviously, students do not need the University to hold their hands. But the University does have the responsibility to help them get through tragedies such as this and to encourage them to seek help if needed. Merely informing students more quickly of what counseling options were available would have been of significant help to students, as would have information about what the University would do if a similar crisis occurred here. Tonight at the candle light vigil, Columbia students will come together in solidarity. The University must do the same, providing students help and support.
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Originial Source: Columbia Spectator
<a href="http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/24900">http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/24900</a>
Editorial Staff
2008-02-17
Kacey Beddoes
Tom Faure (tomfaure@gmail.com)
eng
Ongoing support for Northern Illinois University, Virginia Tech
Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:17:17 -0500
From: Virginia.Tech.news@vt.edu
To: Multiple recipients <LISTSERV@LISTSERV.VT.EDU>
Subject: Ongoing support for Northern Illinois University, Virginia Tech
Friday, February 15, 2008
The Virginia Tech community continues to reach out to those at Northern Illinois University.
Throughout today, numerous university administrators, faculty and students have been in contact with counterparts at NIU to offer assistance, advice, and support. The university will continue to lend support as long as it is needed.
Cook Counseling Center will be open Saturday, Feb. 16 and Sunday, Feb. 17 from noon to 5 p.m. Walk-in appointments are welcome to students who may wish to seek support should difficult memories of last year's event resurface. The center can be reached at 231-6557 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Employees seeking assistance can call 866-725-0602 anytime 24 hours a day.
Hokies United is planning a candlelight vigil Monday night on Alumni Mall, near Torgersen Bridge. The event will be at dusk, approximately 6:30 p.m. Everyone in the Blacksburg and Virginia Tech communities are welcome.
Hokies United is also asking everyone to wear red and black on Monday to show solidarity and support for the Northern Illinois University community.
Charles W. Steger
2008-02-15
Brent Jesiek
eng
Campus creates major issues
April 24, 2007
By KATY MATLOCK
Contributor
Before April 16, the topic of stress at Baylor University could have provoked yawns in its predictability.
With final exams, social pressures and looming career goals as the ingredients, stress was an inevitable dish served up to college students across the nation. Occasionally, some deaths that are stress-related suggested a deeper problem stalking the shoulders of students. But in general, the consensus seemed to be that stress is a fact of life on college campuses.
On April 16, Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old English major at Virginia Tech University, killed himself and 32 of his fellow "Hokie Birds."
The university shooting shocked the nation and threw a new stressor onto students' plates.
Over the next few weeks, students on the Baylor campus at the least will be coping with passing final exams, starting summer jobs and accepting a tragedy that shattered a fellow university's campus bubble. In addition, students may be facing difficult situations at home, financial struggles or post-graduation uncertainty.
As trite as it may seem, there are some helpful ways that students can persevere and even embrace life during the stress of the next few weeks.
Rachel Farris, a graduate student from St. Louis, includes a section on stress management in her Health and Human Behavior classes.
She encourages students to include short, fun activities in their schedules.
"Some of my students schedule times in their day to have a stress break where they might color, listen to music, work on art, read or write," Farris said.
Farris also applies these practices in her own life.
"I try to take regular breaks in my schedule to do things that I enjoy," she said.
In these breaks, she said, she may read, write, exercise or listen to music. She limits her breaks to less than an hour so that the break itself relieves rather than compounds her stress, she said.
Corpus Christi sophomore Patrick Roberts allows himself a break one day a week.
"If I don't get that one day off a week, my study time isn't as efficient," he said.
Roberts said he feels for the families affected by the Virginia Tech shootings.
"It was a horrible thing that happened," he said.
However, he said, he isn't personally stressed about it.
"I feel pretty safe on Baylor's campus as far as things like that go," he said.
Some stress can be a healthy motivator for students.
"The problem occurs when we have too much stress, or we do not handle our stress well," Farris said.
Kerry Mauger also teaches sections of Health and Human Behavior.
"Sometimes students spend more time stressing over what they have to do instead of focusing on doing it, which increases the feeling," said Mauger, a graduate student from Angora Hills, Calif.
She said that students also sometimes use alcohol and drugs to cope with stress.
Exercise, sleep and healthy eating habits consistently prove to be significant factors in combating stress. These tend to be the behaviors that students neglect during stressful times, said Carmen Boulton, a Santa Barbara, Calif., graduate student.
Boulton teaches Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Relaxation and Fitness.
"Not taking care of your body is common," Boulton said. "Trying to function on very little sleep, caffeine and no or poor quality food definitely affect performance in a negative way.
"I think one of the most common ways that we deal with stress is avoidance, which in the long run just makes any situation worse when we get up to the last minute and have not prepared enough," Boulton said.
Dallas junior Katie Richardson said going to the lake by her house to sit and meditate helps her when she's feeling stressed.
"Don't stress about things you can't do anything about," she said.
The most common source of stress in her life is finances, Richardson said, and her most common means of handling stress is prayer.
"You've just got to put it in God's hands," Richardson said. "But when you do, you have to really let it go and leave it in his hands."
Against the backdrop of Baylor's Christian heritage, many students on campus rely on their faith during stressful circumstances.
"I believe that faith has a strong place within stress management," Farris said. "Faith can give an individual guidance on how to prioritize the things in life.
Keeping a good perspective on what is important can help minimize stress by allowing that individual to accept when they have committed all that they can afford to commit to an aspect of their life."
Boulton said it is reassuring to know that God is in control during stressful situations.
"Planning specific time to give to God can help keep school in perspective and remind us that there is a lot more going on and we are part of a much bigger plan," she said.
Kyle Dunn, college pastor at Highland Baptist Church, said the college ministry encourages students to turn to prayer and to their Christian friendships amid stress. Dunn, a Baylor alumnus, has worked predominantly with college students in Waco for seven and a half years.
In light of the Virginia Tech shooting, it is particularly important for students not to go through this stressful season alone, he said.
Students can find companionship in the church, Dunn said.
During the upcoming study days, the department will set up a place for students to study in the Highland church building.
On Sunday the college department presented a message titled, "Tragedy and Hope."
"We're really trying to encourage the students," Dunn said.
Dunn said Factors outside of academic life, such as interpersonal relationships with the opposite sex and circumstances at home, can contribute to students' stress.
The Baylor counseling center has included a link to several Web sites to help students cope with traumatic stress after the Virginia Tech shootings. Students who would like to speak with a counselor can call the Baylor counseling center at 254-710-2467.
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Original Source: The Lariat
<a href="http://www.baylor.edu/Lariat/news.php?action=story&story=45462">http://www.baylor.edu/Lariat/news.php?action=story&story=45462</a>
KATY MATLOCK
2008-02-05
Kacey Beddoes
Julie Freeman (Julie_Freeman@baylor.edu)
eng
Counseling and Support Information for Students and Employees
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 13:34:30 -0400
From: Virginia.Tech.news@vt.edu
To: Multiple recipients <LISTSERV@LISTSERV.VT.EDU>
Subject: Counseling and Support Information for Students and Employees
August 17, 2007
Counselors from Cook Counseling Center and ValueOptions will provide drop in counseling services from two locations, a tent on the Drillfield and in Squires Student Center: Sunday, August 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, August 20 and Tuesday, August 21 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Cook Counseling Center, McComas Hall, will also be open Sunday, August 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, August 20 through Thursday, August 23 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, August 24 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For additional counseling support for students please contact Cook Counseling Center at 231-6557 or 231-6444 after hours. For additional counseling support for faculty or staff, please contact Employee Relations at 231-7772.
Counseling and Support Resources for Faculty and Staff
Tom Brown, Dean of Students, and Christopher Flynn, Director of Cook Counseling Center, will be offering a series of seminars on "Identifying and Referring the Distressed Student" tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 5 from 4 to 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 6 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and Monday, Sept. 10 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Registration is not required. Participation is open to everyone the Virginia Tech community. Locations to be announced.
The Center for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching is sponsoring a workshop on Thursday, August 30 on "Pathways to Resilience - From Surviving to Thriving". The workshop will be led by two clinical psychologists from James Madison University. Sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 5 p.m. at The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. To register, visit www.ceut.vt.edu. Registration is open to faculty and staff.
Faculty, staff, and dependents covered by Virginia Tech health insurance always have full access to counseling referral through ValueOptions, our EAP provider. Call 866-725-0602 anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Callers will be referred to a local counselor for an appointment.
Counselors are available to meet with departments and workgroups at their offices or other convenient locations by appointment - contact 231-7772 to request this service.
Counseling Resources for Students
Cook Counseling Center, McComas Hall (231-6557): There is no charge for counseling services for graduate and undergraduate students. Individual and group psychotherapy services are available. Groups are forming for students coping with trauma; call for information. The after hours emergency number is 231-6444.
Web Resources
Additional resources and information for the university community are available at <a href="http://www.virginiatech.healthandperformancesolutions.net/ ">http://www.virginiatech.healthandperformancesolutions.net/</a> and www.hr.vt.edu/supportresources. Additional resources and information for students are available at www.ucc.vt.edu.
Other Counseling Resources
Mental Health Association of the New River Valley (540-951-4990) provides referrals to local counselors (no student services). New River Valley Community Services Board (540-961-8421, no student services). Psychological Services, Department of Psychology (540-231-6914) provided non-emergency counseling/therapy to students and to faculty, staff and/or family members (there is a fee for service). Family Therapy Center, Human Development Department (540-231-7201) provides non-emergency services to students, faculty, and staff (there is a fee for service).
Upcoming Events for Employees
The annual CommonHealth and Benefit Fair will be held Wednesday, October 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Squires Student Center in the Commonwealth Ballroom. In addition to vendor's booths, there will be wellness and stress management seminars. Watch for information coming in early fall.
For more information contact Human Resources and Benefits(231-9331 or www.hr.vt.edu); Employee Relations (231-7772); Work/Life Resources (231-3213 or www.worklife.vt.edu); ADA Services (231-4638); Cook Counseling Center (231-6557 or 231-6444 after hours); Dean of Students Office (231-3787); Office of Recovery and Support (231-0062); Virginia Tech Police Tip Line (231-6411).
Virginia.Tech.news@vt.edu
2007-08-17
Brent Jesiek
eng
Provost Update August 17, 2007
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:25:23 -0400
From: Provost@vt.edu
To: Multiple recipients <LISTSERV@LISTSERV.VT.EDU>
Subject: Provost Update August 17, 2007
August 17, 2007
Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues:
You are probably noticing that the students are moving back to Blacksburg this week. (It is a good time to stay away from Washington Street.) The start of the fall semester is always an exciting time and we will be welcoming over 5,000 freshmen in the great new class of 2011. We will also be welcoming approximately 100 new faculty colleagues across all eight colleges. The first day of class will be a memorable adventure.
Many departments and colleges have been busy this week with pre-semester retreats, planning sessions, and orientations. I realize that you are receiving multiple forms of communication about ongoing and new activities. I am going to highlight a few key issues and events recognizing that you have heard or will hear more about each of these items in different ways.
1. The three internal reviews requested by President Steger will be presented soon. James Hyatt chaired the group looking at infrastructure and security; Erv Blythe chaired the group looking at networking; and Jerry Niles chaired the group looking at the relationships among the academic, judicial, counseling, and legal systems. Each group will provide an overview of existing structures and programs and will make recommendations for enhancements. Some of the relevant items have been or are being implemented already (such as VT Alerts), and a comprehensive summary and outline of additional security enhancements was prepared by Executive Vice President James Hyatt. A note of immediate relevance to faculty instructors: the general assignment classrooms are being fitted with hardware that will allow rooms to be locked from the inside with automatic unlocking features when exiting.
2. The dedication ceremony of the memorial on the Drillfield will be held at noon on Sunday. All members of the university and extended community are invited. Faculty and student representatives will provide brief comments.
3. Human Resources and the Cook Counseling Center are coordinating efforts to provide counseling support to faculty, staff, and students next week. There will be two primary sites staffed by trained professionals: a tent on the Drillfield and Squires Student Center. Counselors will be able to travel to other locations as needed. In addition, counselors will be specifically assigned to a few key locations (including Norris Hall). In April, faculty members implemented a plan to invite a faculty colleague to attend class on the first day. The colleague was available to provide collegial support and to be available, if needed, to help with any issues that came up.
The college deans' offices are helping to promote and encourage a similar system next week. Last spring we relied on the good judgment of faculty members to decide how best to address and respond to the events of April 16. We will do so again. I anticipate that most students and faculty in the classroom will be eager to focus on what we do best: teaching and learning. CEUT held some sessions for faculty this week and will have follow-up sessions over the next few weeks. Your feedback about your experiences and the experiences of the students will be helpful.
4. You have received advice about media attention early in the week. You are free to talk with the media, but you are under no obligation to do so. Also, you can decide what issues you want to discuss. You have control over who is admitted to your classrooms.
5. The "Concert for Virginia Tech" on Thursday, September 6 is going to have an impact on classes that evening. As of now, we are planning to cancel classes beginning at 5 p.m. so that all faculty, staff, and students may attend the concert if they wish. Unlike the situation with football games, the parking lots are open to regular use and no one will be expected to vacate spaces in specific lots. As provost, I am never thrilled when the regular academic schedule is affected by non-academic events. We are going through an important phase of the healing process and I hope you will embrace the positive features of this unique contribution to the Virginia Tech community.
6. One of the highlights of the academic year will be a special program that brings emphasis to our commitment to the unique responsibilities and opportunities that come from being Virginia's senior land-grant university, as well as highlights the Student Engagement component of our Strategic Plan. The program, which we are calling VT-ENGAGE, is a university-wide initiative that reaffirms our motto, Ut Prosim, by facilitating and leading opportunities for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to participate in community service, service learning, and volunteerism. During its inaugural year 2007-2008, VT-ENGAGE will honor the victims of the tragedy of April 16 and the commitment to service they demonstrated within their communities worldwide.
A Steering Committee, which includes broad representation of faculty, staff, students, administrators, and community leaders, is working diligently on the planning for VT-ENGAGE. The committee has established a goal of at least 300,000 hours of service/service learning. Each member of the university community will be challenged to commit at least 10 hours during the academic year. We hope that each of you will choose to participate and that you will find creative ways to include the spirit of VT-ENGAGE in your teaching, research, and outreach.
A major event will be held on the Drillfield the evening of October 16 to kick-off VT-ENGAGE. Community organizations are being invited to have displays and to sign-up volunteers. The event will be festive and feature stories of how Virginia Tech students, faculty, staff, students, and alumni make a difference in communities around the world. Much more to come.
We believe VT-ENGAGE will send another positive message that Virginia Tech is a very special community with a spirit that does indeed prevail.
Best wishes for a successful start to the new academic year.
Mark McNamee
University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Mark McNamee
2007-08-17
Brent Jesiek
eng