The Dean of Students Office actively works with CMCers on health promotion and wellness, offering direction and support.
Helping students identify their “orange flags”—the signs before red flags pop up—is just one proactive strategy that Jess Neilson loves to use in her role as Senior Assistant Dean of Students for Mental Health and Health Promotion.
Her office’s goal is to help students take agency for their well-being and engage in effective problem-solving by navigating supportive options.
Neilson assists individual students who may experience personal challenges during their time at CMC, while also contributing to the care of the mental health and wellness of the campus community as a whole. She works with students to identify needs and coordinates referrals to campus and community resources and monitoring of personal progress.
On a broader campus level, Neilson offers suicide prevention trainings to numerous groups on campus, coordinates supplemental counseling services, and delivers a session during CMC’s new student Orientation on mental health and substance use. Additionally, her unit oversees Fresh Check Day, CMC’s annual mental health fair, and partners with students to bring their programmatic visions to life, such as Club Soda, a substance-free space every Saturday night.
We asked Neilson to share how she approaches mental health support and wellness, and how her team assists students to navigate what can be a challenging transition to college life.
From a mental health perspective, can you describe some of the biggest challenges college students are facing?
It’s no secret that the mental health struggles of young people are on the rise. Today’s college students have a lot on their plate. They are reintegrating into a post-pandemic era, navigating relationships, exploring new independence, and challenging long-held beliefs. They are also weighing the pros and cons of engaging in social media, and weathering the sociopolitical and worldwide landscape—all while trying to stay afloat in a rigorous and fast-paced academic environment. Encouragingly, the mental health stigma has generally dropped over the years, and we’ve seen an increase in folks seeking help through therapy and other supportive avenues.
What are some ways you can reach or impact students before they are in crisis?
CMC offers so many resources that students can utilize to be proactive with their health. The majority of students that I meet with are hoping to get ahead of that crisis moment. In addition to referring students to suitable resources, I do a lot of coaching and skill-building in my meetings, with the goal that the next time that a student is feeling activated, they feel a bit more equipped on how to regulate their emotions. I’m all about helping folks fill up their toolboxes! I also love helping students identify their “orange flags”—the signs you notice right before the red flags pop up. Another proactive resource is our new Peer Health Ambassador program, which is a great way for students to learn more about relevant health topics from their peers, so they can take agency for their own well-being.
How does your office support health and wellness?
We want students to not only consider their mental and physical health, but their intellectual, environmental, and social health, among others. When offering support, we take both an individualized approach and a larger community approach, especially when we notice patterns. For example: Upon talking individually with some transfer students who felt a bit isolated upon arriving on campus, we started the “Transfer Dinner in the Ath” to gather this group together each semester, which was one way to increase social belonging.
Broadly, we offer responsive support such as case management, therapy referrals, and crisis intervention. On the proactive side, we try to infuse health and well-being into conversations from day one through orientation sessions, educational workshops, and health fairs. Our Romero Success Coaches and CARE Center are also integral resources within the Dean of Students Office for peers to learn from and engage with one another. Generally speaking, we do our very best to connect students with what they need—whether that is helping them find a formal resource or introducing them to another student with whom we think they might get along well.
How much does perfectionism or imposter syndrome play a role in mental health issues once students arrive on campus?
Feeling as though you don’t belong on campus or that what you’re producing is “not good enough” can absolutely affect one’s mental health. When we don’t feel “good enough” in one area of our lives, it’s common to see that belief ripple into other parts of our lives. Over time, this can feel almost debilitating. If a student experiences this when they arrive on campus, they’re not alone. One piece of guidance I have for folks is to focus on the facts and allow yourself to challenge some of the recurring thought patterns that arise. For example, if you believe that you’re not smart enough to be here or your work is never good enough to turn in, look back on past examples that disprove those beliefs. This isn’t always easy to do, but can be a helpful exercise when we find that perfectionism or imposter syndrome is causing added stress to our CMC experience.
How does your office approach mental health in ways that may differ from other colleges?
While much of what we offer may be found at peer institutions (i.e., therapy and psychiatry services, case management, educational workshops, peer health initiatives), I think how we deliver support is what’s so special about CMC. The Dean of Students Office seeks to take a transformational (vs. a transactional) approach when working with students, and certainly, when it comes to mental health, this is crucial. Each student comes to campus with their unique background, experiences, and needs, and we closely partner with each person who comes in for support, as there is no one-size-fits-all model for mental health care. We also aim to “do with, not for,” which allows each student to be the driver of their own story. I like to think we’re the co-pilots, offering direction and support along the way.