The Center for Wellness and Well-being
During some point in your life have you ever experienced depression, grief, loss and stress? Do you often feel lonely and hopeless? Do you think that the only way to relieve internal pain is through suicide? Has your depression gotten so bad that it’s affecting your academic career? Well you’re not alone according to, Psych Central one out of four college students suffer from a diagnosable mental illness. Just in 2018 alone 44 percent of American college students reported that they have experienced symptoms of depression. With each school year that passes by the number of college students who experience some form of mental issues increases. As the number of students who experience mental issues increase , the number of college students who seek help through services offered through their colleges increase as well.
At Santa Monica College, In Santa Monica California students who are experiencing a mental crisis can seek help at the Center of Wellness and Well-being. Located in the Liberal arts building in room 110, the center is staffed with a total number of eight people. The staff who works in the wellness center range from licensed psychologist to post doctoral interns. Each staff member is highly qualified in their respective field and can provide services for students in personal counseling, crisis intervention, referrals, consultation and workshops. The goal for the center is ” to help enhance the overall personal well being of SMC students”. In order for someone to be eligible to receive assistance from the center they must be currently enrolled at Santa Monica College and have paid their health fees for the semester. Once a student is deemed eligible the next step is to schedule an appointment. Students can go the center on Mondays between 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. and on Tuesdays thru Fridays between 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. to schedule an appointment.
With an enrollment number of over 30,000 students at SMC , every student is encouraged to seek help from the center and shouldn’t be discouraged about coming there. According to Alison Brown a psychologist who works in the center, ” Every student at SMC is advised to get help at our center , everyday we try our best to assist the needs of every student who visits our center. Even if we cannot see every student we provide alternative options for them such as weekly workshops, hotline numbers to various organizations and referrals to services outside of our center”. Another issue that shouldn’t discourage any student from not visiting the center is the fear of being judged. Brown stated, “our center is a safe space without any judgment, our students and their information is always safe and their sessions with each counselor is confidential”. Overall the center for wellness and well-being is a great place for students to go for any mental crisis that they are experiencing , everyone is welcomed there.
Health Is Wealth 