Returning to school can be overwhelming, particularly for first-year college students or returning students taking online courses and going to campus for the first time. Unfortunately, this stress, along with worries about COVID-19, has caused a mental health crisis among college students. In fact, a recent study by TimelyMD shows that 88% of students believe there is a mental health crisis in US colleges and universities.

Thankfully, Skyline College offers resources to combat this. Students may have seen a “health services fee” on their tuition for previous semesters. However, this has been dropped for the 2022-23 semesters!

Through Skyline College’s Health & Wellness Center, students can now meet with counselors for mental health needs and access resources for physical health and other basic needs for little to no cost.

Surprisingly, many students are unaware of this free counseling service. First-year cosmetology student Karen Hudson described the current attempt at sending information to students as “ridiculous,” referring to the weekly emails that pack a lot of information into them.

Sophomore Ryan Sprinkle, likewise, said that the emails “are not helpful.”

However, Persona Counselor Perry Chen, who was worked with the college’s Health and Wellness Center since 2018 told The Skyline View, “We have seen an increase in the number of students utilizing our services since March 2020. As the pandemic began, we had to pivot to offering online services (zoom), which may have also made our services more accessible.”

Skyline College can do better in spreading awareness of these services as there is interest among students. One way students feel mental health counseling can be better promoted is by having teachers dedicate a day to informing students of this service. Other suggestions had bulletin boards in each building with flyers explaining how to make an appointment with a counselor.

Students are encouraged to take advantage of these resources as they can be helpful for those experiencing stress related to school and off-campus issues. In addition, at a time of increasing rates of depression and other mental health issues, as well as the increasing cost of off-campus therapy, counseling can help students navigate difficult times.

For students seeking counseling, you can call (650) 738-4270 or drop into Building 19, Room 19‑110, during the hours of operation listed on the Skyline College website. Both in-person and virtual sessions are available.

In addition to the Health & Wellness Center, the college has the Active Minds Club, which is a mental health club that focuses on decreasing the stigma around mental health and creating a supportive community for students. They also host events, workshops, and other activities that center around helping students find ways to destress.
Active Minds meet in person in Building 6, Room 205, from 11 am-12 pm every other Wednesday, starting Aug. 31, 2022.
Visit skylinecollege.edu/healthandwellness for more in-depth information and additional support and resources.

This article has been updated to include a statement from Personal Counselor Perry Chen.