It’s not enough to make statements. It’s not enough to create working groups. It’s not enough to pay attention to only some parts of the larger problem. When it comes to improving mental health equity on college campuses, more work just needs to be done, mental health experts said during a webinar Wednesday.
(left to right, top to bottom) Dr. Shawnté Elbert; Dr. Swapna Hingwe; Dr. Larry Ozowara; Dr. Sherrá Watkins
The panel discussion – hosted by higher ed mental health provider Mantra Health and the Steve Fund, which focuses on mental wellbeing for youth of color – was centered around how a major part of student success hinges on mental health, and how some communities may not be getting equal access to the resources they need. The event was hosted by Dr. Larry Ozowara, vice president of care delivery at Mantra.
“We start to address how the populations that we serve – and we look at the places that they live, work, play, and worship – and how they are able to thrive or sometimes just survive. We look at their race, their ethnicities, their service and access to languages, and the barriers that they face. Then, we can start to address equity from that lens," said Dr. Shawnté Elbert, chief health equity officer at Columbus Public Health.
"Mental health challenges [are] prevalent among students,” said Dr. Swapna Hingwe, associate director of counseling and psychiatric services at Michigan State University. “But we also know that certain student groups face additional barriers in accessing effective care and resources.”
To create inclusive and supportive environments where all students – including those from historically marginalized backgrounds– can thrive, advocates and those supporting this work cannot just focus on improving counseling centers, the panelists said.
According to three experts invited to the panel, more work is needed in community-building; collaborating with different school departments; reducing stigmas; offering diverse services for diverse populations; and enacting policy changes.
All in all, the issues calls for systemic change, they said. Quick-fire, short-term ‘fixes’ won’t do. Instead of “putting out fires,” advocates can instead view student mental health issues from a “population health” perspective, said Dr. Sherrá Watkins, associate vice president for student health & wellness at the University of Utah.
