Mental Health on College Campuses

Mental Health Still Matters

This episode of College Talk explores the topic of mental health on college campuses with experts in the field. 

 Dr. Marla Craig is the senior associate director for clinical services of the counseling and mental health center at the University of Texas at Austin and has been the clinical director for nearly 15 years. As a licensed psychologist she earned her doctorate in counseling psychology at Texas A&M University. She previously served as president of the association for the coordination of counseling center clinical services also known as the Clinical Directors Association.                     
 
Accompanying Dr. Craig in this episode is Dr. Sonia Krishna, a board certified physician specializing in child adolescent and adult psychiatry and integrative holistic medicine. She completed her psychiatry residency and her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the UCLA Semel institute for neuroscience and human behavior. Dr Krishna started her private practice in 2019 to provide excellent patient centered and collaborative care to children, adults and families. 
 
Anne Vilen also took the time to join this conversation. As an author whose work focuses on education and social and emotional learning, she is also the parent of two recent college graduates who continue to navigate the tricky terrain of mental wellness while adulting.

                                        
            Dr. Sonia Krishna                                                 Dr. Marla Craig                                                      Anne Vilen


Here’s a snapshot of what is happening around campus and how parents can be proactive. 

Students are Feeling Anxious

A lot of anxiety for students is centered around readjusting and transitioning back into the classroom. Parent POV: Stay present through technology. For example, creating a text thread between parents and their child can be a lifeline for students whenever they are feeling overwhelmed and can’t verbalize how they are feeling and also a great way to check in and moderate anxiety levels. 
 

Opening Up the Dialogue

The stigma for mental health issues are starting to decrease however these topics are still difficult to discuss however students are feeling more comfortable to open up these doors of communication. 
Parent POV: The more you can make the topic of mental health an ordinary topic at home, the more they can open up about addressing this issue. 
 

Utilizing Telehealth and Couseling Resources

Many counseling centers are seeing an increase in students using telehealth services and coming into the center. Parent POV: Call the counseling centers, ask questions, research mental health apps and be present during parent orientation.