In light of recent findings from an internal review committee at Virginia Tech, many universities have begun to review and change their mental health services. While Boston College has looked at the implications of the study for the University, no changes to mental health services have been made yet.
The review committee was commissioned after the shootings at Virginia Tech last April that left 33 students dead and many wondering if the tragedy could have been avoided. For three months, the panel evaluated the quality and effectiveness of the University's security, communications, and mental health services at the time of the incident.
Findings released in August recommended the creation of a threat assessment team at Virginia Tech to review the most complex student cases and take action if necessary. The group also suggested the addition of more case managers to provide faster follow-up on troubled students and a clarification of communication policies between the university and outside agencies. Changes to federal and state laws concerning privacy rules that protect the academic records of students were recommended as well.
The University Counseling Services at BC (UCS) see over 1,200 students annually and offer a variety of services. But no changes have been made at this time to expand them.
"We didn't add anything [since the incident at Virginia Tech]," said Dr. Thomas McGuinness, UCS director. "There were already procedures in place that addressed the issues."
Dr. Christopher Flynn, director of the Cook Counseling Center at Virginia Tech, has taken many of his committee's suggestions to heart and has enacted several of them. Besides adding the recommended case managers, additional counselors and psychiatrists have been hired, he said in an e-mail. Virginia Tech also provides extended support services for troubled students, as the number of students who seek help has increased by approximately 35 percent since last year and may continue to increase, he said.
While there have been no such mandated changes at BC, Flynn, who was also the director of Loyola University's Counseling and Career Services Center in New Orleans, La., when Hurricane Katrina hit, and a former clinical psychologist at BC, indicates that BC's UCS have been "very much involved" in looking at policy and procedures regarding services for students.
"I spent a day with [BC's UCS] staff in October looking at the aftermath of the tragedy here [at Virginia Tech] and implications for counseling services and universities. The director, Dr. McGuinness, is one of the most experienced and capable directors in the United States and has been very involved with dealing with the implications for Boston College," Flynn said.
All full-time students at BC are eligible to use UCS at no cost. Students consult UCS for a wide range of problems and concerns including difficulties in adjustment, relationship problems, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse. Data shows that the number of students using the services provided by UCS has increased steadily over the past few years.
"We see more students each year, but there hasn't been a surge of any kind. There has been a steady increase in students that visit and the complexity of their problems, but that is consistent with the national standards," McGuinness said.
This increase has been attributed to many things, mainly better knowledge about mental disorders and the way in which they are diagnosed.
Paul Gray, a professor in the sociology department at BC, also cites the decrease in the stigma associated with seeking help. He says there is a more positive coverage of mental disorders in the popular media, including on Oprah, Dr. Phil, and the new HBO series In Therapy.
"It may also be that there is more stress in the environment for young adults, especially among competitive students such as those who meet the requirements for Boston College or who are working hard to be admitted to the graduate school of their choice, or to get a good job after graduation," Gray said in an e-mail.
In addition to general appointments and consultations, BC's UCS also provide for psychological emergencies. The Psychologist-on-Call service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
BC's psychologists-on-call field about 350-400 emergency calls annually from parents, students, faculty, and resident assistants, McGuinness said. After hours and during weekends, students can reach the psychologists by calling the BC Police Department or the Primary Care Center and asking to be connected. BC does not outsource this position, and it will always be a staff member of UCS. He or she will respond to a caller's concern, provide an initial assessment and may even come on-site to perform an evaluation, depending upon the urgency of the situation, McGuinness said.
Anyone seeking a general appointment at UCS can expect to be scheduled within the next working week. During the busiest times of the year (the middle of each semester), however, students may have to wait up to two weeks for a consultation. Students with more urgent concerns would not be forced to wait that long, McGuinness said. Parents, faculty members, and students concerned about other students can also request consultations.
Initial counseling appointments are used to identify the nature of a problem and to make decisions about the next possible course of action. Most students are seen for short-term counseling (six to 12 sessions), but unlike other universities, there is no "limit" at BC as to how many times a student will be seen, McGuinness said.
Students may also see a psychiatrist at the recommendation of a counselor. Psychiatric medications can be prescribed providing that the student has an established relationship with a UCS psychologist. Group counseling is available as well.
One service missing from BC's UCS is something that Virginia Tech has recently employed - an online screening module.
Students can use the free and anonymous online module to screen themselves for depression, alcohol use, eating disorders, and anxiety. The screening is not a diagnosis, but is a preliminary test to find out whether consultation with a counselor might be helpful.
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