Campus Connection

It’s no secret that college comes with some major stressors: new roommates, trying to belong, cramming all night for exams and handling personal issues while balancing academics. When these stresses become too much, many students seek help from counseling services; however, some never will. For a variety of reasons — whether the stigma, mistrust of the system or a culturally different style of asking for help — those mental health problems can go undetected, and lead to bigger issues for students and sometimes entire campuses. Mental health issues have been at the core of a series of campus murder-suicides over the last decade, intensifying efforts across the nation to reach out to more students before mental health problems lead to tragedy. An outreach effort by Cornell University is now considered part of best practices for reaching students who are traditionally under-served by mental health treatment, says Crystal Champion, a counselor in UW-L’s Counseling and Testing Center. Cornell launched the program “Let’s Talk,” which offers students informal consultations with a counselor at drop-in centers around campus. With no appointment or formal evaluation, Let’s Talk is a way for students to trouble shoot life’s issues without committing to formal counseling. Since Cornell’s launch, several UW System schools — UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee and UW-Eau Claire — have started similar programs. UW-L is piloting the program this fall. Champion will hold walk-in hours from noon-2 p.m. Fridays in 1101 Centennial Hall, the Office of Multicultural Student Services. No appointment or fee is necessary. Let’s Talk is for students who for some reason are uncomfortable with traditional mental health counseling services, but need help working through a problem. In the process they can decide if more formal counseling might be right for them. Students meet with the counselor confidentially and anonymously. They are provided with information about informed consent and confidentiality, but are not required to fill out or sign any paperwork to participate. And no topic is off limits, says Champion. If the program is successful in bringing in new students at the OMSS site, it aims to expand its reach to bring drop-in counseling to other parts of campus. Faculty and staff who refer students to the Counseling & Testing Center are encouraged to continue to do so, but if students are reluctant, Let’s Talk is another option. The program is a partnership between UW-L’s Counseling & Testing Center and the Office of Multicultural Student Services. Learn more: visit Frequently-Asked-Questions-about-Let-s-Talk