Having the chance to go to college gives young adults access to opportunities outside the comfort and security of their family or hometown. They learn to be independent, interact with people of different backgrounds and attain the education they need to chase their dreams.
College years are also a time of great life changes. Adjusting to a new environment as well as navigating social groups, academic and financial pressures can put new levels of stress on teens who are learning to make it on their own.
Colleges and universities are noticing the increased need for mental health services and are struggling to keep up with the demand for this care. A recent study by Dr. Sarah Lipson, assistant professor in Boston University’s School of Public Health, found that over the past eight years, the mental health of college students has significantly declined. Her research shows an overall 135% increase in depression and 110% increase in anxiety among students. Lipson also found that students of color were the least likely to use the campus mental health services.
These factors, combined with the increased awareness around the importance of mental health support during the pandemic, and a gift from the Connecticut-based 1772 Foundation to the Reverend Pinckney Scholars program, enabled Coastal Community Foundation (CCF) to make therapy more accessible to college students of color.
The Reverend Pinckney Scholars program was created in memory of S.C. Sen. Clementa Pinckney following the 2015 Emanuel AME Church massacre in Charleston. The program promotes access to higher education for low-income African-American students in Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties. The scholars accepted into the program receive financial support through scholarships, plus professional development, financial literacy education and coaching from staff. Now, it also includes free mental health care.
“During our regular communication with scholars, we heard repeatedly that mental health was a huge burden,” said CCF Director of Grantmaking and Scholarships Caroline Rakar. “We hosted a workshop on mental wellness that covered relevant topic areas, created a wellness toolbox, and destigmatized talking about mental health. We wanted to also provide access to counseling where students can speak to trained professionals in a confidential setting.”
The current Pinckney Scholars and alumni of the program have access to 15 free virtual sessions with a licensed therapist through BetterHelp. If needed, students can request additional sessions.
“The response has been incredibly positive,” shares Rakar. “Mental health has been a challenge, especially as students are leaving their homes for the first time and finding their place on a college campus where, often, their peers do not look like them. Validating those feelings by the shared experiences of their fellow Scholars and providing resources through this initiative has been very powerful.”
Pinckney Scholar Ebonie White of North Charleston is a psychology major at Winthrop University who says she jumped at the opportunity for therapy.
“Mental health awareness has been a passion of mine for a long time, so I was extremely excited to say the least! Implementing this service was another reminder that they want us to succeed as whole individuals, and not just as scholars.”
White says participating in therapy has made her more self-aware and given her tools to succeed in everyday life.
“As college students we tend to wear a lot of different hats, which can be stressful,” she said. “We also tend to have tunnel vision in pursuit of our goals and can miss opportunities to take advantage of the resources available on the way to those goals. Therapy gives us a chance to prepare ourselves throughout our journeys to our desired destinations.”
Including mental health services for Pinckney Scholars is a pilot program CCF launched in the spring of 2023. The Foundation hopes to continue partnering with donors to ensure this becomes a permanent fixture in the Pinckney Scholars program and connect with those who may wish to expand access to all CCF scholarship recipients. For more information about the Pinckney Scholars or to get involved, visit coastalcommunityfoundation.org.
Mayci McLeod is a staff member at the Coastal Community Foundation.
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