Peggy Lorah wants Penn State students to know that men have an important place at the Center for Women Students. "Although most victims of sexual and relationship violence are female, men also encounter abuse directly and indirectly, and we have always seen male victims at the Center for Women Students," said Lorah, the center's director and a licensed professional counselor. As Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month draws to a close, the staff of the Center for Women Students and Counseling and Psychological Services emphasize that awareness -- and action -- to help prevent and treat both female and male survivors of abuse are part of their ongoing, daily efforts. (more)
Beginning this week, the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Penn State will hold three forums for students who want to discuss their thoughts and feelings about recent events at Penn State. Forums will be held Nov. 29, Dec. 1 and Dec. 7 on the University Park campus. CAPS asks that participants respect the confidentiality of others in the forum. These events are closed to representatives of the media. (more)
Recent news headlines across the United States have shed light on mental health concerns among teens and young adults in distress -- whether questioning their sexual orientation or dealing with an unhealthy relationship -- where others resorted to bullying, harassment and other violence against them. Experts from Penn State's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH) answered questions about the effects of peer bullying and discrimination, and what college students and their friends and loved ones can do to support students who may be demonstrating signs of distress, anxiety or depression. (more)
Ben Locke, associate director of the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services at Penn State, has been awarded the Outstanding Early Career Psychologist Award from the American Psychological Association. The award is in recognition of Locke's efforts to establish the Center for the Study of Collegiate Mental Health (CSCMH) at Penn State, a collaborative effort designed to advance the understanding of student mental health, to monitor mental health trends, to conduct large scale research and to enhance the tools available to mental health providers. CSCMH is a multidisciplinary research center involving more than a dozen Penn State faculty and students from five different departments, as well as a national practice and research network of university counseling centers at 145 institutions. (more)
Penn State is dedicated to using the most innovative tools and programs to address students' emotional and academic needs. In an informational report to the University's Board of Trustees Friday, Nov. 21, Damon Sims, vice president for Student Affairs, led a panel discussion on new initiatives in the areas of emotional wellness and academic expectations.
The panel discussion focused on "Worrisome Student Behaviors: Minimizing Risk," a video series addressing concerns about potentially violent or disturbing behaviors. Panelists also tackled the topic of Penn State's long-standing student advising and registration program, the First-Year Testing, Counseling and Advising Program (FTCAP). (more)
Faculty may not know when academic floundering, incivility or inappropriate behavior are occurring in a student who is experiencing emotional problems. Mary Anne Knapp, clinical social worker, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), will lead a case discussion surrounding these issues from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, in 315 Rider Building, University Park. This is part of the ongoing Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence Fall Luncheon Series. (more)
Despite a few tragic events at a handful of colleges in recent years, serious violence on university campuses is extremely rare, and universities must balance security interests with students' privacy rights and personal freedoms. In this new era, many colleges and universities have revisited the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which protects the privacy of student education records. In addition to completing this review, Penn State has developed several educational tools to help faculty and the greater University community understand this law, and better determine when it is appropriate to intercede for the health and safety of Penn State students. (more)
Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois University -- Deadly shootings at these and other schools are leading to new and innovative ways to identify students in distress and offer help in times of need. Penn State Public Broadcasting has helped create a new tool for faculty and staff to assist such students. (more)
Penn State is dedicated to improving the level of health services for its students. The new Student Health Center, which houses University Health Services and the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, supports the pledge through state-of-the-art lab and pharmacy facilities, new technology, a team approach to medical treatment and new records management software. In an informational report to Penn State's Board of Trustees, Damon Sims, vice president for Student Affairs, led a panel discussion Friday (Sept. 19) on emerging issues related to the physical and mental health and wellness of Penn State's students. Panelists included Peg Spear, senior director of University Health Services and Dennis Heitzmann, senior director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). (more)
For any student, going away to college and encountering new academic and social pressures can be a challenging experience. For some, those challenges, as well as pre-existing conditions, can result in issues that need the attention of qualified mental health experts. Dennis Heitzmann, director of the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Penn State's University Park campus and an expert in college student mental health issues, said that the preponderance of students his center sees are dealing with anxiety and depression, but that each client is dealing with a unique situation. (more)
