Removing barriers for students to use mental health services is one of the most important goals of college administrations today – particularly for students of color and diverse backgrounds.
In a recent article, Diverse outlined the various mental health challenges students face today and discussed how educators can offer more effective support. According to the 2023 Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) for returning students and the 2023 Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE) for first-year students, 66% of the student respondents to both surveys indicated they felt nervous, anxious, or on edge to the point where it was affecting their lives. Fifty-six percent of CCSSE respondents reported that emotional or mental difficulties impacted their academic performance during the four weeks prior to taking the survey, and 37% said mental health issues could even eventually cause them to withdraw from courses or college. 
Dr. Nichole Kang
College campuses have made great strides in making mental health services available to students, but access remains a critical issue. Thirty percent of CCSSE respondents said they didn’t know where to go for mental health support, and 42% reported not seeking mental health support despite feeling that they needed it. All mental health support is not created equal, and an opportunity remains to more effectively direct students to support that’s best suited to meet their needs. According to the CCSSE survey, 27% of Black students said it was essential that a mental health provider understands their cultural community (including racial/ethnic identity), and 59% said it was important. Similar figures were reported among Latinx students.
An Inclusive Approach
As educators passionate about and dedicated to the success of our students, we have an obligation to step in and play a role in alleviating this issue. Without a doubt, mental health treatment and counseling must be done by professionals. But considering our daily interactions with students and deep understanding of what it takes for them to be successful, there’s an opportunity for us to help more actively.
At Montgomery County Community College (MCCC), we take a slightly different approach to supporting the mental health of our students, centering around facilitating access and removing barriers to care. A primary component of this approach involves integrating mental health support with other basic student wellness services. Many other educational institutions segment student services into different silos. But to us, improving student health and wellness requires a collaborative approach where different departments can work together to meet all student needs.
