In college, when many young people are first learning how to make their way in the broader world, accessible mental health services can mean the difference between resilience and crisis, between healing and isolation. These services are not just about managing stress or overcoming obstacles—they are essential to students’ success. At Brooklyn College, the Personal Counseling Program provides free and confidential services, offering a range of support, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, and workshops on stress and time management. These services are not simply a convenience. Many students face very significant obstacles in accessing community services, including co-pays that are unaffordable for the student, insurance disclosures to families who oppose seeking help, and long waiting times for appointments. If they don’t have access to campus services, many become discouraged and drop out. With demand for mental health services on the rise, the staff—four full-time licensed mental health professionals, along with several part-time staff comprised of master of social work and doctoral trainees—plays a vital role in supporting student well-being. The program provides more than 4,000 sessions annually to over 700 students, a number that has grown significantly in recent years. Increasing Demand “Before the pandemic, we were already seeing an increase in the severity of mental health issues among college students,” says Gregory Kuhlman, the director of the program and a professor in the M.A. program in mental health counseling. “Now, the impact is even greater.” Kuhlman says that the demand for services has been “elastic,” meaning the more accessible and welcoming the services, the more students seek support. In previous pandemics, studies showed that up to 7% of people experienced post-traumatic stress. The college’s diverse student population has felt this impact acutely. Many students come from communities heavily affected by the crisis, including health care and other frontline workers, and families who suffered significant losses. The impact of social isolation is another post-pandemic concern. “College is a time when students are supposed to build relationships, but the pandemic disrupted that,” says Andy Hale, one of the program’s licensed clinicians. “Now, many students struggle to connect and aren’t sure where to start.” Kuhlman also notes a shift in the types of cases the program handles. Previously, only about a quarter of students seeking help exhibited significant risk factors such as suicidality or self-harm. Now, more than half present with serious concerns requiring close monitoring and intervention. “[While] we don’t have the resources to provide long-term individual therapy to every student,” he says, “we screen everyone who comes in for risk and prioritize care accordingly. Our goal is to ensure that students get the help they need, whether through in-house counseling or referrals to external providers.” The Power of the Peer One of the program’s most effective tools is group therapy, which the staff say is incredibly powerful but underutilized. “People assume individual therapy is better, but research shows that group therapy can sometimes be more effective,” says Hale, pointing out that group sessions provide peer support and community. “There is often someone in the group who is a step ahead in their healing journey. Watching peers navigate similar challenges can be incredibly powerful,” he adds. Prarthana Patelia, a second-year student in the mental health counseling M.A. program, says that the college years are an ideal time to engage in these services. “Most students are juggling so many things—personal issues, career aspirations, choosing a major. These things can induce so much anxiety. When you have this type of service on campus, you don’t even have to go out of your way. It can be life-changing to have someone in the field who can listen to you and give you the right guidance.” The program provides various group therapy options, including interpersonal process groups, cognitive behavioral therapy groups, coping skills workshops, and mindfulness-based sessions. Some groups have formed organically around shared experiences, such as grief support or navigating masculinity. As mental health challenges continue to evolve, the staff will remain committed to adapting its services, Hale says. “Students are figuring out who they are, what they want, and how to navigate life’s challenges. If we can support them in that journey, it benefits not just the individual but the broader community as well.” Broad Impact To ensure that students know about available services, the program collaborates with various campus organizations, including the LGBTQ+ Resource Center, the Immigrant Student Success Office, and the Women’s Center. While they offer general workshops on things like time management and stress management, they sometimes create tailored supports for special populations. “This might look like designing a specialized workshop, visiting a resource space in the wake of a painful or traumatic event for that community, or support at a campus event that the organizer anticipates may be emotionally charged,” explains Hale. Beyond individual well-being, mental health professionals at the college agree that mental health services are integral to student retention and success. “Academic success is often accompanied by good attention, organizational, and study skills, and these skills can be impacted when facing mental health concerns,” says Professor Paul McCabe, chair of the Department of School Psychology, Counseling, and Leadership. “Students who are struggling with mental health issues, stress, and trauma may not be able to fully attend to their studies and cope with life demands. Counseling can help students develop coping strategies and self-care so they are better able to focus on their studies, thus leading to increased academic success.”