Young people are no longer suffering alone.
Iowa State University psychologist Kristen Seibert said students are becoming more aware of mental health resources and are seeking them out more than ever before.
“Students are talking about mental health with their friends and others on campus, asking questions and wanting to know what resources are available to them,” Seibert said. “I think we’re definitely seeing a trend in that direction.”
ISU offers a variety of mental wellness options, from individual counseling to group therapy, online therapy assistance and peer coaching.
The variety allows students to find what suits them best, Seibert said.
“We recognize that each student has different mental health needs and different ways of seeking mental health support,” Seibert said. “We strive to provide a range of services to support the unique needs of each student.”
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What mental health services are available in Iowa?
Iowa State University’s Student Counseling Services offers individual, group and traditional short-term counseling sessions. Students schedule an initial meeting with a certified counselor to discuss their situation and determine the best approach for them.
Sessions typically meet every two weeks, with students completing four to eight sessions, and staff will help connect students with outside resources if needed.
The Student Counselling Service also offers mental health workshops that students can attend to build skills on anxiety, motivation etc. The workshops last for three weeks and usually incorporate mentoring and dialogue sessions.
Students can receive support through Therapy Assistance Online (TAO). The program is free to students, faculty, and staff and covers a range of mental health topics, allowing the experience to be tailored to individual needs.
“We also know that different students have different preferences for how they access services, so we are able to provide most of our services virtually if that is what the student prefers,” Seibert said. “Whatever a student’s needs or preferences are in terms of how they access services, we strive to support that.”
Group therapy helps students open up
Seibert said students often seek individual counseling, but there are also cases where the counseling team feels group therapy might be a better fit.
Although students can be hesitant, many admit that group therapy provides benefits they couldn’t get through individual sessions, Seibert said.
“I think it’s important to connect with peers who are going through similar experiences and know that you’re not alone,” Seibert said. “It’s common for college students to feel isolated and alienated, and the connection they experience with other students is so powerful.”
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Students learn from their peers in the Student Wellness Coaching Program
The Wellbeing Coaching program was launched by Iowa State University’s Student Health and Wellness department in 2023 and has been a great success, said Brian VanderHeyden, director of student wellness.
The program is run by peer coaching rather than counselors, with sessions led by graduate students from Iowa State University.
“Students come in (either online or in person) with issues related to their health or connecting with other students,” VanderHeyden said. “What the health coaches do is help them process that and develop an action plan to continue working through that issue.”
For some students, the next step is getting more resources and support, while for others, it’s figuring out steps they can take on their own. Regardless of the direction, VanderHeyden says Iowa State’s well-being coaching can be a great starting point for students.
“For a lot of students, this program is helpful because it provides a bridge to make connections,” VanderHeyden said. “For students who have never sought medical or counseling care themselves, even accessing resources on campus can be a little intimidating. This can be a safe place for them to process their feelings and get support.”
VanderHeyden said the students are making good progress toward their goals, and he said interest in the program has “definitely increased,” with student recruitment doubling compared to last year.
“We are excited to continue to expand this program on campus,” VanderHeyden said.
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How Iowa State University makes mental health resources available to students
Iowa State University strives to ensure mental health resources are available to students from the moment they step on campus.
Information is available at student orientation and Destination Iowa State events, and the school also conducts outreach activities throughout the year to help faculty know what resources are available to students.
“We don’t just do (outreach activities) at the beginning of the year,” VanderHeyden said, “we have a lot of strategies in place throughout the year to connect students with support.”
Iowa State also rolled out a new university-wide communications campaign, Cyclone Support, a mental health-specific website filled with resources and information.
“This is a one-stop-shop, introductory website,” VanderHeyden said, “to help students quickly identify and connect with resources that are available to them.”
VanderHeyden said cyclone assistance is expected to officially begin in the fall.
Celia Blocker is the government, crime, politics and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.
