SAN MARCOS-Texas State University is expanding its focus on student mental health through resources and programs aimed at a supportive campus.
As finals season approaches, students undergo academic pressure and mental health issues arise. Texas State Student Health & Well-Being Task Force determined that education and training for faculty, staff and students are necessary.
Understanding the challenges that Texas State students face both inside and outside the classroom is important for developing effective pedagogy, reported by the Texas State Student Health and Well-Being Task Force.
Texas State University launched a free four-week mindfulness program to aid students’ mental health in Fall 2024. NOWCATS, a team comprised of Texas State faculty and staff from the counseling center, was launched by Jennifer Smith, a licensed professional counselor-supervisor and NOWCATS coordinator.
“The program is part of our education, prevention, outreach, larger program at the Counseling Center as a means of offering a variety of different tools and techniques,” Smith said.
The NOWCATS are mindfulness instructors trained by the Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults (MIEA), a four-week evidence-based program for college students with proven benefits like improved academic performance, improved relationships and developing communication skills while learning self-soothing and relaxation techniques.
Counseling Center Assistant Director Richard Martinez said the NOWCATS hopes to promote and highlight student mindfulness by providing a variety of tools and techniques for students. During the fall and spring semesters, the classes are offered once a week for four weeks.
“I think one thing we look forward to is that we’ve continued to build relationships with the academic side of the university,” Martinez said. “We have included faculty as part of our certified trainers, and they’re also able to bring some of that information into the classroom.”
This four-week program, which is now being offered to students at no additional cost, collaborates with MIEA. This non-credit course offers a certificate from MIEA acknowledging that a student and certified trainer has attended and completed all four classes.
In addition to the NOWCATS and MIEA program, the counseling center created weekly meditation sessions for students, faculty and staff. The meet-ups took place on Wednesdays from February 12-April 23 in the Trauth-Huffman Hall. The meditation sessions allow students to learn a new mindfulness technique every week and learn to apply them to their day-to-day. Sessions take place during the fall and spring semesters.
Associate Sociology professor, Claude M. Bonazzo Romaguera Jr., is one of the instructors who are certified through MIEA and lead meditations on Wednesdays.
“We’re giving our students the skills, but then we also need to hopefully create a community where they can kind of keep reinforcing these skills,” Bonazzo said. “So why don’t we do a weekly meditation for the entire semester. So I set up the room, the time and created flyers… it starts small, but slowly people are consistently coming back.”
The counseling center’s mindfulness group programs complement the existing mental health services, such as individual counseling sessions through Texas State TimelyCare.
Students at Texas State can receive unlimited, on-demand virtual mental health services at no additional cost via the TimelyCare App. Texas State students have access to on-demand emotional support, counseling sessions, psychiatric services, health coaching and more.
Assistant vice president for student success and director of the student health center, Emilio Carranaco, said that supporting student mental health is a widespread issue across college campuses, according to a Texas State press release.
“Addressing the mental health needs of students is a challenge on most college campuses,” Carranco said in the press release. “Adding virtual counseling and psychiatry services available 24/7 to our on-campus counseling services will help us provide better support for our students and enhance their opportunity for success.”
TimelyCare offers students, faculty, and staff the ability to access support and treatment outside of regular working hours, with shorter wait times and a wide range of providers to choose from.
Exercise sports science junior Ulises Mena said the services and programs provided by Texas State are important to him and to his peers.
“There are other students who have mental health problems and having those facilities acts as a way to speak to others about it,” Mena said.
Lakin Ferguson, a wildlife biology junior, said the negative stigma surrounding mental health is more accepted on college campuses than anywhere else.
“Everyone here is depressed. Everyone here is stressed out,” said Ferguson. “It depends on whether they utilize the counseling center or not.
With the introduction of programs like NOWCATS, group mindfulness sessions and expanding virtual mental health services, Texas State University is taking proactive steps to prioritize students’ well-being. TXST is providing tools, techniques and resources available to manage higher education and the challenges of life.
For more information, visit the Counseling Center’s website.
