College freshmen face unique challenges as new school year begins soon

"We want to make sure that individuals are not being isolated which can increase challenges of anxiety or depression.”

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – As the summer winds down, incoming college freshman are preparing for a new chapter in life. While this is exciting for many, new students on campus often face unique challenges that can decrease the quality of their mental health.

“There’s the balance of navigating how to allocate time for studying and allocating time for friendships”, said Courtney Schauder, the Health Engagement Consultant for UnitedHealthcare of Georgia. “We want to make sure that individuals are not being isolated which can increase challenges of anxiety or depression.”

Schauder says because many freshmen are covered on their parents insurance plans, there are mental health benefits available to them. The Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) program at Mercer University allows students to be more informed on the resources available to them.

“We also are very proud of our program called Radical Health, which is a four-hour mental health skills training module that they take as part of their UNV 101 COURSE,” said Shaun Kell, the Assistant Director of CAPS at Mercer. “So every student at Mercer has at least a basic working knowledge of how to take good care of themselves and how to access resources if they need it.”

Kell says Mercer ensures students know about and where to find CAPS, and reminding them they can receive the treatment they desire.

We encourage students to give us a good chance because you can’t get results in just a couple of meetings usually,” Kell said. “But we’re not asking people to come forever either.”

For more information about CAPS click here: https://counseling.mercer.edu/macon/

For more information about counseling and mental health resources at Middle Georgia State University click here: https://www.mga.edu/health-clinic/mental-health.php

For more information about counseling and mental health resources at Fort Valley State University click here: Clinical Mental Health Counseling Graduate Program – Counseling Academic Department – Fort Valley State University (fvsu.edu)