Dear Parents and Family Members:

It is a fact that over the past decade or so campuses across the nation, UCSB included, have been experiencing a steady increase in the number of students with mental health issues. Additionally, the severity of the conditions that universities are encountering is growing. A larger population of students with psychological conditions, some severe, appears to be a permanent characteristic of campus life.
Though the vast majority of students with psychological conditions are successful in college, these students often have a different set of needs and expectations than we used to encounter a decade ago. These students may need a more extensive and intensive mental health support system from our counseling center, student health, disabled students programs, residence halls, student life office, and other student services.
Sending a son or daughter off to college is a proud and happy moment, but it can also be the source of anxiety. Parents want to be reassured that the campus can provide appropriate student support services so that all students can be successful. We at UCSB have been aware of the trend in student mental health and for some years have been working to better serve the students and the campus as a whole. UCSB assumed a leadership role in a task force formed at the UC system-wide level in January of 2006. Under the leadership of UCSB’s vice chancellor for student affairs, Dr. Michael Young, and a faculty member from UC San Diego, Dr. Joel Dimsdale, the task force undertook an evaluation of the UC system’s mental health services overall and developed a set of recommendations (www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/regmeet/sept06/303attach.pdf) for strengthening those services across the system. The Board of Regents made an initial allocation of funds needed to begin implementation of some of the recommendations, and additional funds are expected to be provided to each UC campus in the coming years.
If your student has a history of mental or physical health issues, the best strategy for ensuring success at UCSB is to develop a plan for his or her care prior to arrival on campus. There are a number of important considerations to keep in mind such as transferring care to local health professionals, planning for the transition to living away from home, setting up new routines for taking medication regularly, and adjusting to a new schedule. College life is full of distractions, and some students have setbacks in managing their illnesses by forgetting their medications or electing not to take them. In preparation for this transition, we recommend that you contact the professionals in our campus Social Work Services at Student Health at (805) 893-3087 who can provide information, guidance, advice, and assistance.
In the meantime, I wish you and your student a successful year ahead. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at (805) 893-4569.
Sincerely,

Yonie Harris
Dean of Students

College Mental Health

For some students, the stresses of college can result in mental health issues. Some students come to college with a previously diagnosed mental health condition and are under the care of a physician or psychiatrist; these students may wish to transfer their care to UCSB professionals at Student Health Service. Other students may develop symptoms such as depression and anxiety for the first time while in college. Although mental health issues can be challenging, with the proper medication and therapy, students can be very successful in the college environment. Consultation, diagnosis, and treatment for many common mental health symptoms is available from psychiatrists at Student Health Service (805-893-3371), and free and confidential counseling is available from licensed psychologists at Counseling Services (805-893-4411).

Identifying Students in Distress

UCSB has had in place for several years now an early warning program whose goal is to help us identify and get help for students exhibiting signs of psychological distress. The program consists of outreach and training for staff and faculty to enable them to identify and respond to distressed students. An essential component of the program is a booklet titled “Responding to Distressed Students” that is now in its second edition and has been distributed to every office and department on campus in hard copy form and to every faculty and staff member via a Web site (www.sa.ucsb.edu/distressedstudentsguide). The guide is used as part of the foundation for the training and provides information on identification of various symptoms of distress, a protocol for immediate response, and descriptions of campus resources that can be easily accessed. These resources range from psychologists, psychiatrists, and counselors to campus police, judicial affairs officers and other administrators, like our coordinator of student mental health services and our dean of students, who regularly work with distressed students. In essence, we have created a safety net that alerts key campus staff who then quickly mobilize and develop an appropriate service response for students in psychological distress. This early response program works on behalf of both the distressed student and the campus community, hopefully identifying students early and getting them help before a crisis develops.

Signs of Student Distress

The following are signs that a student could be in distress and need to see a counselor:

• behavioral or emotional change; someone who doesn’t seem like him or herself
• withdrawal from others and/or favorite activities/li>
• change in hygiene or appearance, not taking care of oneself/li>
• decline in academic performance/li>
• alcohol or drug abuse/li>
• excessive or inappropriate anger/li>
• bizarre thoughts or behavior (e.g., out of touch with reality, talking about suicide)/li>
• others feel uncomfortable or worried about them/li>
• decline in functioning (e.g., not attending class, not sleeping or sleeping too much)

Coordinator of Student Mental Health Services

Angela Andrade, the coordinator of student mental health services, is a readily accessible single point of contact for parents, faculty, staff, and students at UCSB who are concerned about a distressed student and do not know which office to contact. She will consult about a student, provide referrals to campus departments, develop action plans, and follow up with parents, students, staff and faculty as appropriate. In an emergency situation, you should always call 911. Call the coordinator of student mental health services if you are concerned about a distressed student and:

• do not know where to refer him/her for assistance
• would like to consult about possible responses to a student’s behavior
• notice a student’s behavior is making others feel uncomfortable
• believe there may be safety concerns in the future
• have called 911 because of a safety concern
• would like future follow up to know if a student is connected to appropriate support services

The coordinator is available at (805) 893-8920 for consultation and appointments during working hours, M-F. If you need immediate assistance during working hours, you may also call (805) 893-4569 or (805) 893-4550. In the event of an emergency, call 911.

Counseling Services

College life may be stressful and difficult at times. When students need help sorting out a personal issue, feel overly stressed, anxious or depressed, Counseling Services provides an objective person with whom to talk. When these issues are interfering with a student’s academic or personal life or causing academic difficulty, psychologists can help to clarify values, establish goals and, most importantly, identify options. Counseling also can help in relationships with others, and in building self-confidence. Student meetings with psychologists are confidential and no information is released about counseling without a student’s written consent, but parents are welcome to call Counseling Services for guidance or consultation. Counseling Services also offers student groups on a number of topics. Counseling Services is located in Building 599 (the pink building across from Storke Tower) and open M-F from 8:30am-4:30pm. For more information, call (805) 893-4411 or counseling.ucsb.edu.

UCSB After Hours Counseling

Students can speak with a counselor during the night, or on weekends or holidays, by calling Counseling Services at (805) 893-4411. Counselors are also available at this number to speak with a parent who is concerned about a student, or with a student who is concerned about another student.

Stress Management

Stress is one of the major challenges faced by college students. Counseling Services has a comprehensive stress management program staffed by peer advisors. They are trained in stress management techniques and can help students learn to cope with the stresses of college life. Students can visit Counseling Services to try out the egg and massage chairs for a relaxing interlude in a busy day and an experiential introduction to stress management. Relaxation and massage workshops are also available through residence halls or clubs. For information, or after hours counseling, call (805) 893-4411 or visit: counseling.sa.ucsb.edu

Social Work Services

A variety of factors, including medical, academic, financial, emotional, family and social, can affect a student’s performance and adjustment at UCSB. Students who are experiencing difficulties in any of these areas can meet with a social worker for assessment, links to community resources and services, ongoing support, advocacy, and monitoring. For students who may need to leave UCSB, a social worker can provide assistance in locating and obtaining continued services. The social worker’s role is to meet with students, consult with other involved people (with the student’s permission), and identify the student’s obstacles, needs, strengths, and goals to develop a plan. Together the social worker and student develop a plan to access resources needed to overcome these obstacles. The ultimate goal is for students to maximize their college experience while at UCSB. Students are eligible for these social work services at no cost. UCSB’s social workers are also available to consult with parents. Social Work Services are available through Student Health at (805) 893-3087.

Student Health Free Counseling

Free, confidential and non-judgmental information and/or counseling are available through Health Education. Answers, information, assessment and referrals are offered for students who are:

• concerned about their own or a friend’s eating and exercising habits
• interested in discussing healthy eating and fitness with a registered dietician
• needing information on sexual health and relationship issues
• wanting individual and/or group tobacco cessation counseling and nicotine replacement products
• questioning their own or another person’s alcohol or drug use
• wanting to manage stress
• Students may make free appointments with a professional counselor by calling (805) 893-3371.

Active Minds: Educating and Enlightening About Mental Health

Active Minds is an organization which appears on college campuses across America. It was founded by Alison Malmon who was inspired to fight mental health stigma after her brother committed suicide. She wanted to help people like her brother Brian, who suffer from mental health issues, not be afraid to get the help they need. Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder can and do affect everyone, even if it’s through a friend or family member. Young adults aged 18-24 have the highest prevalence of diagnosable forms of mental health disorders. This, along with the fact that suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students puts college campuses in great need of mental health awareness. One of the main goals of Active Minds is to fight the negative connotations surrounding mental health issues in order to make people more willing to get the help that they need. Active Minds is not a support group. The focus is creating awareness of campus resources, encouraging students to seek help and breaking down stigmas about mental health. Showing people their resources, fighting negative stigma, and increasing awareness bring us one step closer to helping students on campus to seek the help they need as casually as they would if they had a sinus infection. Interested students can get involved in Active Minds and help make a difference on campus! Contact information for Active Minds can be found on the list of UCSB clubs at http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/orgs.

Healthcare at UCSB

One of the most frequently asked questions by parents when their son or daughter leaves for college is “When they get sick, who will take care of them?” The answer is easy—Student Health—we are the next best thing to being here yourself.
Student Health is a large facility, employing over one hundred professionals and support staff such as: health educators and counselors, lab technicians, medical assistants, nurse practitioners, optometrists, orthopedists, pharmacists, dermatologists, dentists, physical therapists, primary care physicians, psychiatrists, rheumatologists, and x-ray technicians. If students have questions about their health needs, they can call or go in and talk with an advice nurse without making an appointment.

Where To Go When Students Get Sick

Student Health is located on the west end of campus halfway between the residence halls and Isla Vista. Student Health provides excellent medical care in a convenient, affordable and accessible setting. We are accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care which assures you that we have the highest standards set by college health professionals. All registered students are able to utilize the services Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 8:00am - 4:30pm, Wednesday from 9:00am – 4:30pm and Thursday from 8:00am – 7:00pm. In the event of an emergency or after hours, we work in close conjunction with our local hospital, Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, to ensure that students receive quality care. If students are unable to get to Student Health, they can call the Yellow Cab Company and the charge can be placed on their BA/RC account.

Scheduling Appointments

All registered students have complete access to use Student Health. We recommend that students make an appointment ahead of time. Depending on the urgency of the problem, they’ll be scheduled at the most convenient time according to their schedule. By making appointments, they will minimize their wait time. Students can make an appointment on line by going to our web site at www.sa.ucsb.edu/studenthealth or calling (805) 893-3371. However, we do understand that sometimes, medical problems can not be scheduled. For this reason we staff an Urgent Care Clinic.

Health Education

To help students succeed at UCSB, Health Education offers a variety of services including academic classes, internships and individual confidential counseling. In addition, we offer group presentations addressing alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, eating disorders, nutrition, relationships, sexual health and stress management. For detailed information on Health Education Services call (805) 893-2630.

Passport to Wellness (through the Wellness Program)

The passport to wellness encourages all students to proactively engage in activities that balance their physical, social, and mental lives. Passport Programs will be held at departments around campus to heighten awareness about all the fun, free, active things students can do at UCSB. In addition to great programming, students who participate will be entered into drawings to win free gifts and prizes…just for going to free events on campus!
Free Passport programs include rock climbing, yoga classes, movies, meditation, self defense workshops, massage and egg chair visits, dance workshops, sport tournaments, art exhibit visits, hikes, community service, Marine Science touch tank visits, and basketball games with professors. Encourage your student to register now at http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/wellness.

Insurance

The University of California requires that all students have health insurance to cover injuries and illnesses beyond the scope of Student Health or that occur when Student Health is closed. UCSB sponsors a Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). Combining SHIP with the medical care offered at Student Health provides a complete health care package for students. You will be automatically enrolled in SHIP unless you submit a waiver form by the designated date.

Personal Counseling

Counseling Services offers confidential personal counseling services to all registered students without additional charge. Psychologists offer individual and group counseling to clarify relationship problems and to manage depression and anxiety. Students may also deal with the stresses of life through the Stress Management Program, which is staffed by peer advisors. Self-help materials, including the egg and massage chairs are available for relaxation. Counseling Services is located in Building 599, (805) 893-4411, M-F 8:30-4:30; or visit our web site at: counseling.ucsb.edu.

Hepatitis B Immunization Requirement

California State Law requires first time enrollees at the University of California who are 18 years of age or younger to provide proof of immunity to the Hepatitis B virus prior to enrolling for classes. Instructions for meeting this requirement were included with the admissions packet. Please note that students will need a total of three shots to complete the series. Most insurance companies will cover the cost of the vaccine, so you may save money by obtaining the immunization before arriving at UCSB. Additional information about Hepatitis B and the law requiring proof of immunity and copies of the Immunity Statement are available on the Student Health website at http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/studenthealth/.

Meningitis and the Meningitis Vaccine

Meningitis is an inflammation of the linings of the brain and spinal cord caused by either viruses or bacteria. Viral meningitis is more common than bacterial meningitis and usually occurs in late spring and summer. Signs and symptoms of viral meningitis may include stiff neck, headache, nausea, vomiting, and rash. Most cases of viral meningitis run a short, uneventful course. Since the causative agent is a virus, antibiotics are not effective. Persons who have had contact with an individual with viral meningitis do not require any treatment. Bacterial meningitis occurs rarely and sporadically throughout the year although outbreaks tend to occur in late winter and early spring. Because this type of meningitis can cause grave illness and rapidly progresses to death, it requires early diagnosis and treatment. We offer the vaccine at Student Health and strongly recommend you getting it either on campus or prior to coming to UCSB.