What USD is doing to prioritize students’ mental health

Charlotte Johnson, Vice President of Student Affairs, shares how USD will continue to ensure student wellbeing

Taylor DeGuzman / Editor-in-Chief / The USD Vista

Taylor DeGuzman, The USD Vista

Clarification: On Oct. 7, there was an Op-Ed piece published on the front page, which could be perceived as a News story, despite the disclaimer. The piece offered a one-sided opinion which did not meet journalistic standards of fairness and balance under the category of News, and should have remained on the Op-Ed page.

A common theme can be heard throughout USD’s campus community this fall semester: students are stressed, students are anxious, and students are already burnt out, not even two months into the school year. 

Feeling homesick, social fatigue, and the pressure students put on themselves to perform academically and socially, places individuals in a tricky position to not prioritize their own mental health and wellbeing. Students question how the University of San Diego (USD) will seek to prioritize their mental health and wellbeing this year. 

Charlotte Johnson, VP of student affairs, recently joined the university this year, with an intentional focus that would prioritize student mental health. Johnson shared why she wanted to specifically hone in on mental health and wellbeing when joining USD, with equity and accessibility to mental health resources remaining at the forefront. 

“For me, and the entire Student Affairs team, student wellbeing is an important component of a Thriving Student Model, which seeks to help students understand and reach their fullest potential at USD and beyond, no matter the student’s experiences, resource level or unique barriers,” Johnson said. “An additional focus of the Thriving Student Model is ensuring that members of marginalized communities or groups which historically distrust counseling services have access to and are comfortable reaching out for support.”

USD offers a variety of resources to students including: around the clock counseling services, 24-7 access to counselors through the USD Counseling Center, in-person counselors, and Telecounseling.

Johnson emphasized that partnerships with different USD organizations are at the “heart of the Wellness Collaborative” which engages staff inside and outside of Student Affairs to ensure student wellbeing. Johnson mentioned two distinct examples of such collaboration. 

QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) Gatekeeper Training at USD is one example of collaboration, where USD students can become QPR-Gatekeeper trained and learn how to “recognize the warning signs of suicide, know how to offer help, and know how to get help at USD and in the community to help save a life.” A second example of a strong partnership is the collaboration between University Ministry (UM) and Student Wellness. Not many students are aware that UM staff – who not only provide spiritual guidance to students but also create an inviting space for vulnerability – are there to support students’ mental health and wellbeing. Students can stop by Founders Hall 20 or call (619) 260-4735 for more information.  

The university will soon utilize “Telemedicine” as a more accessible option for students who need medical help. Johnson explained how Telemedicine reinforces USD’s “Culture of Care” – whose purpose is to foster an environment where everyone feels valued, cared for, and respected. 

“Telemedicine allows students access to professional care for a medical issue from their residential space and through the use of a computer or hand-held device. The expansion will also include the addition of mental health providers who can be accessed via the phone or virtually,” Johnson said. “The idea to expand the services at USD was borne of discussions held through the Wellness Collaborative and represents an example of how USD can partner with external experts.” 

Johnson pointed out all of the resources for students who need immediate help or have any urgent concern. She explained that USD will continue to prioritize mental health. 

“I want students to know they are never alone,” Johnson said.  While USD offers a multitude of on-campus resources, there are many mental health and suicide prevention resources for students to access off campus and around San Diego. The “It’s Up to Us” campaign – designed to empower San Diegans to have an open dialogue about mental health, mental illness, and utilizing accessible resources – created helpful pages dedicated to mental health resources for college students in San Diego and mental health resources and services throughout San Diego.