The Vermont Cynic treating mental health on campus Sexual assault in safe spaces
VOL. 134 ISSUE 20
The DIY music scene is a close-knit community of people who love music. It’s supposed to be a safe space, but some women have begun to step forward. Story on page 5.
FEBRUARY 13, 2018
FAST FACTS ABOUT CAPS YOU contact caps To schedule a Counseling and Psychiatry Services appointment, you call or visit a CAPS office.
CARE Form
Online Form
20%
Fill out an online questionnaire to determine your needs at CAPS.
Percent of student body who use caps at uvm someone Else
10%
Initial Consultation
People concerned about a community member submit a CARE form to UVM.
Initial Consultations are 30-minute appointments used to determine the patient’s needs.
Percent of U.S. Undergrads who use counseling
$
6,934
Counseling
appointments at caps in fall 2017
Psychiatry
Meet with a counselor to discuss your mental health.
80
Meet with a psychiatrist to develop a treatment plan.
$
Communi ty Partners
GROUP THERAPY
CAPS APPOINTMENT
TREATMENT PLAN
Receive care from a source outside of CAPS.
Join a counselor-run group therapy session with other students.
Schedule another meeting at CAPS with a counselor.
A treatment plan is a course of medication and/or therapy.
new appointments at caps every week
19
counselors and psychiatrists on staff ILLUSTRATIONS: GENEVIEVE WINN
Students need more mental health services Joey Waldinger Assistant News Editor
At the end of last semester, senior George S. Tolley IV sought help from Counseling and Psychiatry Services for the first time in his college career, he said. His was a special case, so after calling the office on a Tuesday he managed to get an appointment the following Friday. But most students do not have such an easy experience, he said.
“At busier times of the semester, students may have to wait two, three weeks before coming into a regular appointment,” said Todd Weinman, director of CAPS. Since 2013, the number of visits to CAPS has increased by 30 percent, Weinman said. Various obstacles hinder the counseling center’s ability to see more patients, chiefly a lack of space and staff, he said. CAPS staff consists of 16 counseling staff members and three psychiatry staff members,
according to the UVM Health website. One full-time counselor was added between the 2007 and 2016, Weinman stated in a Jan. 5 email. As a result of the shortage of staff and space, students are experiencing longer wait times for mental health counseling. Counselors are struggling to take as many appointments as possible, said Christine Germano, assistant director for clinical services. Four years ago, “it was rare
that we couldn’t see someone the week that they called,” Germano said, referring to routine appointments. “Now it’s more rare we can.” Students often have to wait three weeks between appointments, Weinman said. CAPS reserves around 80 slots per week for visits from students who have never been to CAPS, Germano said. They also reserve four appointments for people with urgent needs who must be seen the same day, Weinman said.
“Usually we’ll see more than that,” Weinman said. CAPS does not turn down people with clinical needs who must be seen that day, like students feeling suicidal. They might not schedule students who are experiencing high stress but are still able to attend class and go about their day, Germano said. “We’ll do our best to work with students to see them the CAPS cont. on page 2