On Sept. 3 at 11 a.m. in the Elliott Student Union, the Mo Cares Resource Fair connected the community to vital resources from local and campus organizations. The fair hosted many different mental health-related organizations, including the University of Central Missouri Counseling Center, the UCM Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic and Compass Health.
“You can’t be successful if you’re coming to college with a bunch of stuff, if your mental health is not in a good place and if you don’t have your basic needs met. It will be really challenging. Any additional support we can offer to students to help meet those needs will help them be successful,” UCM Counseling Center Counselor Alina Zamfir said.
Counseling Center
The Counseling Center is one of UCM’s on-campus community health services located at the Administration Building, Suite 102. The Counseling Center offers a variety of free services to enrolled students and is a safe place to work through any concerns you have about school, relationships, your job or any other part of your life. According to Zamfir, the lack of awareness among students about the counseling services is frightening. The Counseling Center plans to increase outreach to students by relocating to the Humphreys Building and hosting group meetings called Stop and Chats.
“During an initial consultation, the Counseling Center helps students assess their needs and determine the best path forward. For those seeking long-term or extended care, the center can provide direct referrals to community providers, with whom some staff members do not work during breaks and the summer. Additionally, the center offers support for navigating insurance and other potential barriers to accessing care,” Zamfir said.
Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic
Amanda McCullough, the clinic director for the Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic, states that the clinic provides students with clinical hours to become therapists and serves the community, offering counseling to individuals, couples and families. The service cost is typically $4 per session, with a sliding scale based on income. The clinic is located in the University Health Center and can be reached via the clinic number 660-543-4813. Common issues students face include anxiety, depression and school stress. The clinic aims to help students navigate life transitions and improve their communication skills.
“Couples who identify and address destructive patterns in their relationships can better determine if they should continue with the relationship or not. With increased discussion of mental health, more people are seeking help for treatable conditions instead of assuming their struggles are permanent,” McCullough said.
Compass Health
Compass Health provides not just mental health but also medical and dental services off campus. It collaborates closely with the Office of Student Engagement, the Student Health Center and the Department of Public Safety to refer students in need. The organization is located at 616 Burkarth Road and offers students the opportunity to schedule appointments so that their needs can be addressed. Beck Brandt, the behavioral health liaison for Compass Health, can meet with students to discuss what options they have and what would work best for them.
“The goal is to break the stigma surrounding mental health and normalize open discussion and self-care,” Brandt said.
UCM offers a 24-hour Crisis Support Line for those experiencing mental health crises, suicidal thoughts, substance use issues or severe emotional distress. The number is 660-543-8008.
