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Underrepresented and underserved college students encounter unique challenges and barriers influencing their mental health and treatment utilization. Responding to national and local student-led demands, we hired a Multicultural Counseling Specialist (MCS) at our student counseling center. This article describes the implementation of the MCS position on our PWI campus and provides a preliminary assessment of its impact. Results showed increased utilization by underrepresented students after MCS hire. Satisfaction data showed treatment satisfaction among all students. Black students reported higher counselor quality, and Students of Color were more likely to reference issues related to cultural competence, than their White peers.

Research points to significant numbers of students on college campuses experiencing mental health distress and an ever increasing number of college students who are choosing to make an off-campus educational experience a part of their college careers. When we consider both of these trends together, it is quite apparent that a significant number of students with mental health concerns will spend periods of time studying away from campus, with converging concerns among college mental health and study away professionals about how to best support these students. This article seeks to outline both challenges and opportunities inherent in the collaboration between campus professionals in supporting students with mental health issues before and during their study away experiences.

Underrepresented and underserved college students encounter unique challenges and barriers influencing their mental health and treatment utilization. Responding to national and local student-led demands, we hired a Multicultural Counseling Specialist (MCS) at our student counseling center. This article describes the implementation of the MCS position on our PWI campus and provides a preliminary assessment of its impact. Results showed increased utilization by underrepresented students after MCS hire. Satisfaction data showed treatment satisfaction among all students. Black students reported higher counselor quality, and Students of Color were more likely to reference issues related to cultural competence, than their White peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of a peer-peer depression outreach program for college students (Depression OutReach Alliance [DORA] College Program). Fifty-six college students participated in either the DORA program or a control program and completed pretest, posttest, and follow-up assessments. These assessments measured responses to and desired social distance from an at-risk male peer, self-stigma and perceived social stigma associated with psychological help-seeking, knowledge of depression and suicide, and crisis response skills. Results indicated that DORA participants reported improved crisis response skills, t(50) = 2.55, p = .014, d = .71, desired less social distance from the distressed peer, t(26) = 3.07, p = .005, d = -.60, and perceived there to be less social stigma related to seeking psychological help after the intervention, t(26) = 2.71, p = .012, d = -.52. Implications for college student depression and suicide outreach are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]