Featured photo by Jenene Grover
Story by Jenene Grover
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Middle Tennessee State University provides free Counseling Services for students, though the programs have received varying feedback, both positive and negative.
The 2024 World Happiness Report findings showed that the United States’ overall happiness dropped from 15th to 23rd in the world. Much of this may be due to those younger than 30, as they are 62nd while those age 60 and above ranked 10th. Mental health issues run rampant on college campuses, especially with academia and general college life causing large amounts of burnout. MTSU is no exception, but it is trying to do its part to combat burnout and other issues with Counseling Services.
“I hit burnout sophomore year,” junior Alex Torres-Martinez said. “I basically failed all of my classes, and I didn’t realize that my depression and everything was the cause of it.”
Torres-Martinez went to Counseling Services two years ago to get through his burnout and depression. Post-COVID, counseling was busy and did not suit Torres-Martinez’s schedule. He ended up being referred out to a personal therapist from his own insurance rather than a counselor on campus.
Though Torres-Martinez’s experience with counseling was one he considered “neutral,” he knows people who had worse experiences. A friend of Torres-Martinez called MTSU Counseling Services for help and was told that they would call right back. However, the call was never returned.
“People trying to reach out to them to see if they can come in at some point, and just hearing that ‘Oh yeah, we’ll call you back later,’ or ‘We don’t really have spots right now,’ I know that’s devastating for them,” Torres-Martinez said. “Because they’re reaching out for help, and it feels like they’re not getting a response back.”
Talking to a counselor can sometimes be students’ only option for whatever a situation might be, or it may simply be the most comfortable option. Many have friends or family to discuss problems with, but having the barrier of confidentially that a counselor offers brings some students comfort.
“Even though I didn’t go further and get set up with a therapist, that little chance that I had for an hour–it really was supposed to be 30 minutes, but once you get it off your chest, it takes longer than you think,” freshman DeAsia Powell said about the Let’s Talk sessions that Counseling Services offers weekly. “That little hour I sat in there and talked with her, it felt good because I knew she couldn’t tell anybody else.”
Let’s Talk is a short counseling session that is on a walk-in basis, available from 2-4 p.m. on weekdays.
Confidentiality was especially important to Powell because of the stigmatization of counseling in her upbringing and culture. She said that in the black community, therapy is less trusted, and mental health is not spoken about at all.
“So, I did consider it, but I didn’t trust it,” Powell said. “I don’t want them in my business. But like what we don’t realize is, it may be their business, but they can’t say anything about it. . .I kind of did consider it, but I just kept doubting it. Then I actually did it, and it felt good that little chance that I took.”
Counseling Services offers multiple counseling opportunities, but their most used is their three- or six-week sessions. Students take a screening test before any initial appointment to see the extent of their mental health issues and to whom their problem would be best suited on staff.
Senior Psychology student Zarria Mabone went to Counseling her freshman year during the COVID pandemic. She lived on campus at the time and with the new COVID restrictions, she was finding it difficult to make friends. Counseling Services tried referring her out at first but worked with her financial restrictions and matched her with counselor Virginia Lowery.
“It was just a really great experience,” Mabone said. “She walked me through really my entire life. We didn’t even just stay on the trying to alleviate the anxiousness and the awkwardness.”
Mental health since COVID-19 has been a rampant issue, with the pandemic causing mass anxiety. Anxiety was worsened by working from home and having to return to normal, loss of family members, separation from friends and family and many other situations that devastated the world.
Torres-Martinez compared America’s culture to that of Mexico, calling Mexico much more leisurely, while America constantly has a “grind” mindset. COVID worsened this reliance on busyness and the inability to handle and balance everything. MTSU counselor Carolyn Jackson sees busy schedules on a daily basis on a college campus.
“I don’t think people have an ability to strike a very healthy balance,” Jackson said. “I do think it is because it’s hard to make time for all of the things that make our lives good. The people we love, making memories with them, spending time with family, spending time with friends, getting to do fun things. It’s just like a daily grind without a lot to break it up, can just get really depressing.”
Jackson is grateful for the younger generations and their discussions and destigmatization of mental health. She said that so many people still believe there is no correlation between physical and mental health, and discussions help limit that thinking.
No amount of discussion and destigmatization can get rid of societal issues. Mabone and Torres-Martinez both believe much of America’s mental health issues come from economic issues; especially in college, many students struggle with paying bills and balancing school with work.
“It didn’t matter about doctor’s appointments, therapy appointments or dental appointments,” Mabone said. “It didn’t matter, even though you had your documentation. It still was all like, ‘Oh you’re late. I know you just lost somebody. I know you just had a death in the family, but this is the time you need to be at work.’ I’m starting to see that roll over into Federal Work Study.”
Various areas on campus other than Counseling Services provide accommodations for mental health issues, especially the Disability Access Center. Torres-Martinez credited the DAC for his staying in school, allowing more time to complete work, and lessening his stress.
Some students do hope for Counseling Services to be open for longer hours or offer sessions like Let’s Talk after normal business hours. With students’ busy schedules, it is difficult to find time for any counseling. Torres-Martinez suggested occasional counseling sessions after 9 p.m. when students are studying at the library and have more time.
“All staff members, no matter what department you work in, we work from 8-4:30, and then they send us home,” Jackson said in response to Torres-Martinez’s request. “So if we were going to do that, I feel like Human Resources would be mad at us.”
Students find it difficult to find extra time for counseling or free time in general within their typically busy schedules. Jackson recognized that not one solution would fit every student, but she encouraged students to find something they enjoy.
“I do think that’s one thing I notice about younger folks is that they’re like–were y’all raised to keep your plates full? I have no idea,” Jackson said. “But I really think that like downtime is just somehow not a thing, so I encourage people to do something that’s just like downtime for them.”
MTSU Counseling Services is open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students can make an appointment by calling (615)-898-2670 or visiting in person.
Jenene Grover is a contributing writer for MTSU Sidelines.
To contact News Editor Alyssa Williams and Assistant News Editor Zoe Naylor, email newseditor@mtsusidelines.com.
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