In response to pandemic, YSU boosts student mental health services

Youngstown State University is increasing mental health services for students in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The university, which currently has two full-time mental health counselors on campus, is hiring an additional full-time counselor and at least one part-time counselor to help increase awareness of available services, provide prevention programs and meet the increased mental health needs of students during the pandemic.
YSU also is exploring hiring multiple graduate associates and contracting with a private mental health provider for additional student counseling services.

“The persistence and scope of this deadly disease has caused much stress and anxiety and taken a terrible toll on the mental health of so many across the nation and the world, including college students whose lives both on and off campus have been greatly altered by the pandemic,” said Ann Jaronski, director of Student Counseling Services.
“These additional mental health resources will help our students weather the storm and give them an opportunity to persevere academically and personally during these challenging times.”

YSU also plans to provide more self-help and prevention options, including yoga classes with a psycho-education component, “wellness bags” for students, mobile stress cart and programs. The university will also explore telehealth resources and applications for students dealing with stress, depression, burn-out and other pressures that might interfere with their academic success.

The increased services, paid for through $335,340 in federal funds via the CARES Act, will be available to students as the Fall semester concludes on Dec. 12 and into the start of Spring semester classes on Jan. 11.

“We know that an anxious or a stressed brain does not learn well,” Jaronski said. “During the pandemic, our students have been more anxious and more stressed. These additional CARES funds targeted for mental health are so necessary for us to help address our students mental health needs and allow them to be better learners and therefore more successful.”

Joy Polkabla Byers, YSU executive director of Campus Recreation and Student Well-being, said the plan to increase mental health services on campus was guided by a multi-disciplinary team of students, faculty and staff from across the university. The group, she said, will continue to gather feedback, assess needs and implement programs to meet the mental health needs of the YSU community.

“The holiday and post-holiday seasons are a particularly critical time as our students leave campus and go home for the holidays,” “It is not only imperative that they remain diligent in following safe COVID-19 protocols while away from campus, it is equally important that they take care of their mental health, returning healthy and well for the Spring semester in January.”