As college students nationwide face increasing mental health challenges, Spring Hill College is working to ensure support services are accessible and responsive to student needs. According to the American Psychological Association, “During the 2020–2021 school year, more than 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem.”
However, student awareness of available resources varies. When asked about therapy services on campus, some students were well-informed while others had little knowledge of what’s available.
Assistant Director of the Office of Violence Prevention S’Mya Jones explained the support available: “The Counseling & Wellness Center offers individual counseling, group counseling, crisis intervention, and psychoeducational programming on a variety of mental health topics. Our goal is to meet students where they are.”
The counseling center collaborates with other departments to provide comprehensive support. “We work closely with offices, including Residence Life, the Office of Violence Prevention, Student Involvement, Athletics, TRIO, and more to provide holistic support for students,” Jones said.
The center actively works to normalize seeking help. “We emphasize that mental health is a normal and essential part of overall wellness. Through events like Healing Arts, Residents Hall Outreaches, Men’s Mental Health groups, and just by simply taking a moment to approach each student that we encounter outside of our office. A simple smile, how are you doing, or a compliment goes a long way,” Jones explained.
Jones noted that students are “more open about discussing their mental health but also experiencing higher levels of stress, burnout, and anxiety—especially after the pandemic.” In response, the college has expanded programming and strengthened campus partnerships to make mental health care more visible, accessible, and stigma-free.
