Counseling and Health Services
» 872 individual counseling sessions conducted in fall and 773 in the spring for a total of 1,645
» Implemented online assessment tools to increase alcohol and other drug awareness and education in counseling
» Counseling developed a new emergency mental health protocol through a partnership
with TriStar Behavioral Health Team
» Diversified general counseling services by adding more groups to target high risk students
» 78% of students surveyed reported counseling helped them make positive personal changes
» 92% of students surveyed reported they would seek assistance from Counseling again if needed
» Cultivated relationships with new graduate counseling programs to increase number and quality of intern applications to supplement staffing in Student Counseling Services
» Added part-time Nurse Practitioner to allow less referrals and more immediate care for patients even though visits to Health Services increased 13% over the previous fall semester
» 4,496 patients served over the year in Health Services
» 18% increase in unique patient encounters compared to the same time period last year
» 23% increase in ability to see patients immediately at the time of initial presentation over the previous year
The APSU chapter of Active Minds, along with national representatives from the “Send Silence Packing” program and APSU Counseling Services, displayed 1,100 backpacks in the University Center Plaza on April 8 to represent the number of students whose lives are lost due to suicide nationwide each year.
Active Minds is the nation’s leading non-profit organization that engages students in changing the conversation about mental health and suicide prevention. APSU was one of 11 college campuses in eight states which hosted the event during the year.
Photographs and personal stories of students who died by suicide were attached to many of the backpacks. Resources and signs were also on display encouraging students to connect to mental health resources on campus.