‘Sustained and consistent effort’ helps counseling service meet the needs of Miami students
24-hour text line, individual and group sessions among offerings
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Published
Miami University's Student Counseling Service provides several options to support mental health and well-being.
‘Sustained and consistent effort’ helps counseling service meet the needs of Miami students
•
Published
In 22 years with Miami University’s Student Counseling Service, John Ward has seen a decline in the stigma surrounding talking about mental health.
At the same time, Ward has seen a rise in the ways his office can help meet students’ needs. The university recently launched the MUHOPE crisis text line, a 24-hour service for mental health support. Along with individual and group therapy sessions, the Student Counseling Service also has workshops, outreach, a robust mental health and well-being website, virtual offerings, and more.
Ward, a licensed clinical psychologist who serves as director of the Student Counseling Service, noted that the number of students seeking care continues to increase, with a substantial rise in sessions provided by his team compared to even 10 years ago. He said it was “immensely gratifying” that his department is able to support Miami students with numerous options.
“We are helpers by nature,” Ward said. “That we can do the work and really serve the students is wonderful, absolutely wonderful.”
Student Counseling Service has 18 professional staff members with 11 others currently in training to be therapists.
“The institution has made a sustained and consistent effort to address our staffing levels, and that has dramatically helped us to support our students,” Ward said.
“When I first started 22 years ago, the stigma around seeking mental health services was extremely high. That stigma has not gone completely away, but students have recognized when they have that need and been courageous in seeking help and support.”
MUHOPE launched in November, while the mental health and well-being website was revamped that same month. Both were part of a near $1 million grant from the Ohio Department of Higher Education that was designed to bolster mental health services.
The funding also helped with a variety of campus initiatives, including new programming and establishing dedicated wellness and relaxation spaces on the Oxford and Hamilton campuses.
Ward said there are also preliminary conversations with Miami’s Equestrian Center to support student wellness. He praised partnerships across campus for helping Student Counseling Service in its mission to assist students.
“They are crucial,” Ward said. “These partnerships really reinforce to students that we care as a campus community and want to direct them to a place to get the support they need.
“We think more holistically about how to serve those needs. We’re continuing to try and innovate to stay on the cutting edge about what is going to be best for students.”
At the same time, Ward has seen a rise in the ways his office can help meet students’ needs. The university recently launched the MUHOPE crisis text line, a 24-hour service for mental health support. Along with individual and group therapy sessions, the Student Counseling Service also has workshops, outreach, a robust mental health and well-being website, virtual offerings, and more.
Ward, a licensed clinical psychologist who serves as director of the Student Counseling Service, noted that the number of students seeking care continues to increase, with a substantial rise in sessions provided by his team compared to even 10 years ago. He said it was “immensely gratifying” that his department is able to support Miami students with numerous options.
“We are helpers by nature,” Ward said. “That we can do the work and really serve the students is wonderful, absolutely wonderful.”
Student Counseling Service has 18 professional staff members with 11 others currently in training to be therapists.
“The institution has made a sustained and consistent effort to address our staffing levels, and that has dramatically helped us to support our students,” Ward said.
“When I first started 22 years ago, the stigma around seeking mental health services was extremely high. That stigma has not gone completely away, but students have recognized when they have that need and been courageous in seeking help and support.”
MUHOPE launched in November, while the mental health and well-being website was revamped that same month. Both were part of a near $1 million grant from the Ohio Department of Higher Education that was designed to bolster mental health services.
The funding also helped with a variety of campus initiatives, including new programming and establishing dedicated wellness and relaxation spaces on the Oxford and Hamilton campuses.
Ward said there are also preliminary conversations with Miami’s Equestrian Center to support student wellness. He praised partnerships across campus for helping Student Counseling Service in its mission to assist students.
“They are crucial,” Ward said. “These partnerships really reinforce to students that we care as a campus community and want to direct them to a place to get the support they need.
“We think more holistically about how to serve those needs. We’re continuing to try and innovate to stay on the cutting edge about what is going to be best for students.”
Established in 1809, Miami University is located in Oxford, Ohio, with regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, and a European study center in Luxembourg. Interested in learning more about Student Counseling Service? Visit the website for more information.
