I was pleased to see the Emerald’s recent editorial (“Help is available in times of darkness,” ODE, Jan. 16) which highlighted the important issues of depression and suicide on university campuses. I also appreciate the Emerald’s continuing efforts to educate and inform the University community about mental health issues affecting students, staff, and faculty. Education and communication about these issues are an important step toward reducing the stigma associated with mental health difficulties and encouraging students to reach out for help.
I would like to clarify information about campus resources to be sure that students have accurate knowledge about where to find services available to them. The Counseling and Testing Center offers daily afternoon drop-in hours for students to come in without an appointment, brief individual therapy, assistance in setting up therapy in the Eugene community for longer term or more specialized services, and many support and therapy groups. In addition to therapeutic support for individual students, Counseling and Testing Center staff are available to provide educational training sessions to faculty, staff, and students about suicide and a wide range of other mental health issues. We share a building with the Health Center and are located on the second floor of the Health, Counseling and Testing Center. Please contact us at 346-3227 to get more information about drop-in hours, therapy and referral services, and educational training.
The editorial identified the University Health Center as a resource for students. The Health Center offers comprehensive medical services, psychiatric services, and health promotion programs. We are fortunate to have counseling and health services in the same building as we know that physical and mental health are intertwined. Although we are two separate departments that provide different services, we share the same goal of helping students achieve their personal and academic goals.
Finally, students who need immediate crisis resources when the Counseling and Testing Center is closed can call the UO Crisis Line at 346-4488 or White Bird Clinic’s 24-hour crisis line at 687-4000.
We hope that students who are struggling with mental health issues will reach out to any of these resources rather than face those struggles alone. We also hope that friends and family members of these students will encourage them to call or come in for help.
Shelly Kerr is interim director of the University Counseling and Testing Center