NEWPORT NEWS — Christopher Newport University received a grant that will allow it to expand mental health-care services for students.
The grant, $100,000 per year for two years, was awarded by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia in consultation with the Virginia Health Care Foundation. It will underwrite the salary and benefits of two on-site counselors-in-residence. The university will hire, train and supervise the Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Licensed Professional Counselor candidates until they are licensed.
“This unique pilot program will serve the dual purpose of expanding mental health services for students, while simultaneously increasing the mental health workforce pipeline by offering supervised clinical hours for candidates seeking to become a LCSW or LPC,” according to a press release from the university.
In addition to the two counselors funded by the grant, a university match will allow the clinic to hire and train a third counselor, school officials said.
“We’re so thankful, because it’s going to give us a chance to help more students, and get them access much more quickly,” said Bill Ritchey, a psychologist and the executive director of health and counseling services for the university. Ritchey estimates the grant will allow their campus clinic to serve about 200 additional students.
Ritchey said statistics show between 20 and 40 percent of college students struggle with a mental health condition. Anxiety and stress are particularly widespread on college campuses.
The additional clinicians mean that students will also be able to access services more quickly, which is especially important in a fast-paced college environment, Ritchey said.
Daywatch
Weekdays
Start your morning with today’s local news
The Higher Education Mental Health Workforce Pilot grant is seeking to address the fact that 70 percent of Virginia is federally designated as a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area.
Ritchey said being able to see more students on campus also “lightens the load” on community providers, because the university doesn’t have to refer as many students out.
Ritchey said added demand is a contributing factor to the mental health provider shortage. Part of the demand, he said, comes from the declining stigma around seeking mental health support.
“It used to be you had to be really, really, really in a bad way to access resources, and now the bar is set much differently in terms of willingness to access,” he said.
This grant comes as a result of the General Assembly earlier this year appropriating $500,000 annually for the next two years to support this mental health workforce pilot. In addition to Christopher Newport, George Mason, James Madison, Longwood, Radford and Virginia Tech will receive a grant.
“We are excited to support the Commonwealth’s effort to increase the mental health workforce pipeline, and honored to be selected by SCHEV to participate in this pilot program,” CNU Vice President of Student Affairs Kevin Hughes said in a press release. “We look forward to working with talented clinicians as they help our students navigate the various challenges they face.”
Nour Habib, nour.habib@virginiamedia.com
