Temple University (PA) is working to promote and support the health and well-being of the entire campus community with $1 million annually in new initiatives. They include creating a new Health and Well-Being Division, supporting and retaining current counselors while also hiring new ones, growing service delivery options and more. These efforts will join those already being put in place, such as expanding in-person group therapy, yoga and meditation classes, growing Resiliency Resource Center services, ensuring that students are able to be seen within 48 hours of seeking counseling services, offering virtual and in-person services, and more.
The newly created Health and Well-Being Division will pull Student Health Services, Employee Health Services, Counseling Services and the Wellness Resource Center together under the same umbrella. This will help streamline student and employee experiences, reported Temple Now. “On a campus as large as Temple’s, the mental health need is high but varied,” said Mark Denys, the new associate vice provost for health and well-being who will lead the division. “Some students need to develop skills to help manage the stresses of being a college student, others are struggling with anxiety and depression, and still others have more complex challenges and need more intensive support. This new structure will allow the university to address the array of student needs more effectively.”
“Nurturing mental well-being means investing in prevention, intervention and treatment, and Temple’s goal is to ensure that all aspects of cultivating an emotionally and psychologically healthy environment are addressed,” interim vice president and dean of students Stephanie Ives told the publication. “The university is making these significant investments because it understands that well-being is essential for strong academic engagement and a rich, fulfilling college experience.”
