September is Suicide Prevention Month, and the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office works to mitigate suicide risks on campus by providing supports and resources for students. According to a new report compiled by Soliant, Nebraska ranks number one as the best US state to live in for mental health, and UNO seems to live up to this statistic. CAPS is invested in destigmatizing therapy and mental health by fostering a culture of awareness and empathy on campus.

A survey in 2023 revealed that 40% of college students considered dropping out, because of mental health concerns. Among several other colleges and universities taking this serious, UNO is dedicated to eliminating barriers for students, including access to healthcare. CAPS offers a variety of services:

Short-term counseling

Consultation

Emergency services

After-hour emergency services

Group Counseling

Couples or partners counseling

Prevention services

University Gatekeeper program

Outreach education

Wellness education

These services are all free to UNO students. UNL, UNK and UNMC also have their own CAPS office for their students.

Students are eligible for eight to 10 sessions of short-term therapy. If a student wants or needs further therapy, CAPS staff can assist them in finding resources and off-campus providers. “We really try to just meet people where they are,” said Katherine Keiser, CAPS associate director. “We make sure students know we offer brief services, but it can take a while to find a fit, so we can help when it comes to seeking out further services.”

Mental health related concerns have increased over time on college campuses. According to BestColleges, on average, 63% of students report feeling lonely, and 30% report feeling overwhelming anxiety. The Mental Health Coalition believes college-aged people are one of the most vulnerable populations when it comes to mental health. Seventy-three percent of all college students experience a mental health related concern during their time at school.

“Our staff has doubled, which is great,” said Keiser. “And we’ve needed it, because, yes, we’ve had a big uptick. It’s been a consistent increase in the last decade of students using our services.”

Students graduating high school and attending college can feel a lot of pressure and anxiety, because of the sudden freedom and responsibility they gain – many for the first time. Non-traditional students can experience anxiety and depression while contending with jobs and families in addition to keeping up with school. But in the last 20 years, there’s also been an increase in violence on campuses, which leads to anxiety for many students. The impact of Covid on students’ lives has led to more feelings of depression and anxiety. CAPS is determined to serve its student population. “We try to make ourselves visible in lots of spaces on campus,” said Maida Avdic, CAPS suicide prevention and education coordinator.

CAPS also offers its University Gatekeeper program, which empowers the UNO community with skills to recognize warning signs of suicide on campus. It trains faculty, staff and students to learn the risks, warning signs and how to intervene for those who do not work in mental health. “Our effort to eliminate the stigma about getting help for mental health is very intentional and ever-present in what we do,” said Avdic.

The US has seen an over-all increase in anxiety, depression and suicide among people age 18 to 25, but marginalized communities continue to be higher-risk populations. The CDC reports that in 2021, 45% of LGBTQAI+ students seriously considered suicide, and black students were more likely to attempt suicide than other ethnic backgrounds. The CDC found that women in college were more likely to experience depression than men, and women report feeling suicidal more than men on campus. An overwhelming number of disabled students feel they lack access to supports on campus, and many experience isolation, which leads to higher risks with mental health.

The CAPS staff avails the office as a team but also on individual levels to undergo professional development opportunities to help them reach and work with under-served communities. CAPS believes it’s important to consistently learn from different perspectives. “It should be a never-ending process,” said Keiser.

Keiser and Avdic insist on constantly learning and collaborating. This allows the staff to be intentional and sensitive in working with students of all backgrounds. CAPS has created strong partnerships with Student Accessibility Services and Student Leadership Involvement and Inclusion, along with other departments and groups on campus in order to increase CAPS’s competency on intersectionality. This includes hiring a diverse staff to role model its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion mission. “Representation matters,” said Avdic.

“It can be challenging for some populations to seek out mental health services,” said Keiser. “Lots of these students are already dealing with inequitable systems, and it’s up to us to educate ourselves so we can best meet the needs of marginalized students.”

CAPS hosted several on-campus activities to promote its office and bring awareness about suicide prevention, including Chalk It Up for More Tomorrows and a partnership with the Kim Foundation. The UNO community was invited to write and draw encouraging messages of hope in chalk outside the Milo Bail Student Center. As September ends, CAPS will continue their mission on suicide prevention and destigmatizing mental health and well-being on campus.

Enrolled UNO students can call (402) 554-2409 to schedule an appointment with CAPS, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Services are provided in-person, over phone and via telehealth.

If you’re a UNO student experiencing an after-hour emergency, you can contact (402) 554-2409 and press 2 (two) to speak with a live person. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call the national hotline by dialing or texting 988 at any time and be connected to a trained counselor. You are not alone, and help is available.