UC hosts 'Mental Health Mondays'
The ChronicleSep 14, 2020
While they have been experiencing isolation during the pandemic, they have also watched racism come to the forefront of national conversation.
It's a situation exacerbated by high- profile police shootings/ killings against Black people and a badly divisive political climate.
A new UConn initiative, " Mental Health Mondays," is
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designed to help
"This initiative is, hopefully, just the beginning of another strategy to let Black students know that they're not alone and there are mental health professionals that are committed to their psychological and overall well being," said
The initiative involves black graduate student therapists at the
It began last July and continues into the fall semester.
George said she felt July, which is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, was the perfect month to start the initiative.
She said July also comes soon after " Juneteenth," which is on
George said there is a lot of stigma surrounding mental health issues in the
"
Every Monday, students who are signed up for the listserv, an electronic mailing list, receive information for improved mental health via email.
The
A number for the psychological services clinic at UConn is listed in the email.
George said while the initiative is geared toward Black students, anyone can be added to the listserv and, in fact, " we would encourage that, to learn about other experiences that may not be relevant to them."
She said a lot of her white friends and colleagues are " shocked that this is a reality for people of color."
Incidents like the killing of
That conversation was furthered by last month's shooting of a Black man in the back by a white officer in
" Watching someone get killed is traumatic and watching someone who looks like you is even more traumatic," George said.
UConn students recently joined together to protest about what they feel are inadequate mental health services.
They also participated in protests about racial incidents on campus.
Hundreds of students participated in a " March Against Racism" protest following an
UConn students
George said the university was successful with the hire of new chief diversity officer
" I think that's a step in the right direction, obviously, but there's so much more work that needs to be done," she said. " The university needs to be intentional about creating an environment in which black students and students in general can feel valued and feel safe and until that happens, the work remains."
Tuitt, UConn President
" At UConn, we have committed ourselves to matching our words with concrete, real- world actions that touch on every unit and facet of the university," they wrote.
On
A new course about anti- racism is starting this semester and the
Other initiatives are underway as well.
" This will be a process with many challenges, obstacles and even setbacks -- but as we said at the start of this letter, it is also an unprecedented opportunity," Tuitt, Katsouleas and Lejuez wrote. " We can bend the arc of history toward justice if we work together."
UConn students and staff with mental health concerns are asked to contact the
Those who would like to receive emails about Mental Health Mondays should email aacc@uconn.edu to join the listserv. Those who need emergency psychological services should call 211.
Follow
The initiative involves black graduate student therapists at the
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