The new program, offered via partnership of several Ohio education institutions and healthcare organizations, will give increased mental health support for college students.
Wright State University has formed a partnership with several institutions and organizations, including Kettering Health, Dayton Children’s Hospital, Premier Health, the University of Dayton, Kettering College, and Sinclair Community College that will provide increased mental health support for college students, a population with a growing need for such support.
According to an article on Wright State University’s website, Sue Edwards, the university’s president, was quoted as saying of the new initiative, “The College Age Intensive Outpatient Program represents the power of collaboration among higher education and health care partners to meet a critical need. By connecting students to specialized, high-quality care, we can help them manage their mental well-being so they can stay engaged, succeed academically and reach their full potential. At Wright State, we are deeply committed to creating an environment where students, faculty and staff feel supported in every aspect of their well-being. Expanding access to mental health care, increasing counseling resources and training our faculty and staff to recognize signs of distress are all part of our effort to ensure that no one faces these challenges alone.”
The College Age Intensive Outpatient program will provide college students who are between 18 and 24 years old with additional support beyond traditional outpatient therapy. Through individualized psychiatric treatment, students will have access to individual, group, and family counseling that will provide students with coping and management skills for anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Students can access this care now at Kettering Health Behavioral Medical Center, and within the next year, Premier Health will begin offering these mental health services, as well. Students who participate in the program will attend group therapy sessions for nine to 12 hours each week, usually for four to six weeks, in addition to the individual therapy sessions they will also receive. Students can join the program of their own accord, or be referred through other organizations or entities like emergency rooms or university counseling centers.
Wright State University has been enhancing its efforts to support mental health on campus in separate initiatives, as well. It has hired additional staff members for its Counseling and Wellness Services, including licensed psychologists and clinical counselors, to provide assistance to more and a wider range of students. Additionally, the university has launched campus-wide Mental Health First Aid training.
For more information about Wright State University, visit the school’s website.