By Rachael Jordan
MISSISSIPPI STATE, Miss. (Take 30 News) ---A new study from Diverse Education.com shows that only 48 percent of students of color feel comfortable reaching out to a teacher or counselor for mental health support. That's compared to 57 percent of white students in the U.S.
More students are seeking mental health services on campus according to a November 2019 report from the associated press.
Hannah Johnson is a senior Communication major at Mississippi State University. She is a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and works on campus at the Digital Media Center in the Mitchell Memorial Library.
“I struggled to find a counselor on campus that I could relate to and help me with my mental health issues and help me get better,” Johnson said.
Johnson said her anxiety stemmed from her minority identity at a predominantly white university.
“When I reached out to the counseling center at Mississippi State, I looked for a young, African American female and I couldn’t really find someone….so I ended up going home to Atlanta and finding someone who could fit my needs better,” Johnson said.
Johnson is not the only person who finds comfort in support from someone who is similar to herself. Katie Coffman currently works as a community director on campus for Griffis Hall and holds a master’s in Mental Health Counseling from MSU.
“I know for myself, being a person who has sought counseling in the past, I did a lot better in counseling when I worked with someone who was more similar to myself and that’s just human nature,” Coffman said.
Coffman worked at a facility off-campus counseling in the Starkville area. She said research has shown its best for patients to be working with someone who shares a similar look, background, values, and ideals as themselves.
Both Coffman and Johnson said the Student Counseling Center on campus could close the access gap by having a more diverse counseling staff. The counseling center does have a diversity and inclusion statement listed on their website.
Take 30 did reach out to the Student Counseling Center for a statement on the subject. Lu Switzer, the Student Counseling Center’s Director said they have a total of 17 males and 6 females working at the counseling center. In regard to females of color, they have 6 clinicians which includes the Assistant Director, interns, practicum students as well as the 1 front desk office assistant and 1 budget coordinator for a total of 8 women of color. They said there are only 2 male clinicians of color.
However, the Student Counseling Center’s website indicates that there are six staff counselors of which only one is a person of color.
The following is an official written statement from Lu Switzer:
“Mississippi State’s Student Counseling Services has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. We strive to hire a diverse staff while at the same time hiring qualified clinicians that put the interests of the students first.
Creating a diverse team has its challenges at times. In order to reach out to a wide group of possible candidates we market positions through a variety of advertisements that are specifically geared to underrepresented populations. We always include a member from Holmes Cultural Diversity Center on our screening committees during a search process. We work closely with HCDC and provide a weekly “Let’s Talk” program on location at HCDC for two hours. Students are encouraged to drop in to talk with the clinician in a non-intimidating atmosphere.
We facilitate 2 LGBTQ groups and all clinicians are required to have Safe Zone training.
Clinicians are also required to receive Green Zone training for our veteran’s population.
In order to reach our international student population, we have developed a monthly group meeting called Tea Talks.
We offer groups and support for Women of Color, as well as first generation students, and Access students.”