Wofford’s Wellness Center institutes crisis line and new counselor

With interim over and a new semester just beginning, maintaining a healthy mindset is as important as ever in a mentally and emotionally demanding environment that is college. Since January, posters all around campus have displayed the new mental health crisis line offered by the Wellness Center. 

Since its opening on Feb. 3, the 24-hour crisis line offers immediate connection to a professional counselor who “can address many issues from talking through a stressful situation to accessing EMS in an emergency,” according to Perry Henson, Wofford’s Director of Counseling and Accessibility Services. Following the call, Wofford counseling staff can follow up with the caller if he or she chooses to disclose their information. Henson also noted that someone can “call for help for another person experiencing a crisis” for professional input. The main intention of the crisis line is for all students, faculty members and staff at Wofford “to feel like they always have someone to talk to,” said Henson. 

In addition to the crisis line, the Wellness Center is also welcoming a new full-time counselor to staff due to an increase in students pursuing Wofford’s counseling services. Henson explained that colleges all around the country have been working to cater to the mental health needs of their students, and Wofford is no exception. She also pointed out that Wofford has been taking measures to ensure that any student in need can receive the help they deserve. From Starfish follow-ups to first time appointment waiting lists, these efforts help maximize the amount of students that can be seen by counseling services in a given day or throughout the whole year. 

Wofford’s counseling services are available to any student, no matter their need. Counseling is available for smaller instances like minor transition issues, small stressors and stress management advice, but can also offer  students support through chronic mental illness. The Wellness Center has placed a cap of 15 counseling sessions per academic year, but Henson explained that the staff can access resources to off-campus therapy if more sessions would be beneficial to a student’s well-being. 

The expansion of counseling services is a part of a larger effort at Wofford to help dissipate the stigma surrounding mental health. Henson said of this concerted effort, “The stigma around mental health is decreasing more and more,” especially at Wofford where students are engaging in vulnerable conversation and creating a culture where mental health is viewed as a priority. In fact, counseling services at Wofford saw 21% of the student body in the 2018-2019 academic year with many students being referred by a friend or professor. 

“Mental health and well-being are important for academic success and we are here to support the success of our students,” said Henson about the mission of the Wellness Center counseling services. 

Written by Abby Landfried, contributing writer