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Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Issue 20, Volume 84
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Mental health services on the rise HEALTH JASMINE DAVIS @JPAIGEDAVIS The Student Health Center Psychiatry Clinic is expected to hire a chief psychiatrist later this month, ending the University’s long stretch without a full-time campus-based physician at the clinic. The chief psychiatrist opening was published online on Dec. 17 after a months-long effort by students and Student Health Center staff, and the accompanying staff psychiatrist position opened up Jan. 18. “We are keenly aware that there is an ever increasing
demand for mental health services among college students, especially at a campus of this size within an urban setting,” said Dr. Vanessa Tilney, the executive director of the Student Health Center, in an email. “We have a large and diverse student population and with that comes a good proportion of them needing mental health support during a busy and stressful period in their lives.” Dr. Tilney said the decision to increase the number of campus-based staff psychiatrists at the Student Health Center came after
LIFE & ARTS
conversations with University stakeholders, members of the Student Government Association and health and wellness professionals. Overall, she said, the addition of the psychiatry positions was made possible through help from executive leadership within the University’s Business Services and Human Resources departments. While the initial hiring process will add a chief psychiatrist and staff psychiatrist to the clinic, Dr. Tilney said they have been given approval to hire a third
SPORTS
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psychiatrist should there be future need. The addition of the chief and staff psychiatrists is expected to decrease wait times for students based on current usage of the clinic. Currently, Dr. Tilney said appointments fill up fast. For some students, that high demand for psychiatry appointments has proven detrimental. “When I finally got in, the psychiatrist literally told me that I should find a therapist outside of the psychiatry clinic because I couldn’t get in as often as needed,” said former
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UH student Jennifer Gonzalez. “That’s one of the main reasons I left — I knew I couldn’t get the help I needed at UH.” Gonzalez said that while access to mental health services at UH played a major role in her difficulties at the University, she hopes the additional psychiatrists on the staff will be able to better help students in her position. “I think that this will help others be able to work on their mental health without having to sacrifice their education,”
MENTAL HEALTH
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OPINION
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