OWEN HEMSATH
PRIDE STAFF WRITER
Student fees at California State San Marcos will increase next semester in order to pay for mental health services, according to Dr. Karen Nicholson, the medical director at Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS).
The services and fee increase comes because of Executive Order 1053, which states “student mental health services shall be established and maintained to enhance the academic performance of matriculated students.” The order also states that all CSUs “must comply.”
However, according to Dr. Nicholson, the order is overdue. She asserted that a rise in the need for mental health services is because of the events of the last decade including the vents on Sept. 11, the Virginia Tech massacre and Columbine and that CSUSM is far underprepared to handle so many students. Citing references from the International Organization of Counseling services, she mentions that for a CSU, the standard ratio for full-time equivalent counselors to students is 1 to 1500. At CSUSM, that number is 1 to 4300.
As such, Chancellor Charles Reed of the CSU has approved a measure that requires the university to implement mental health services at the students’ expense.
Students, however, will be able to access mental health services at no additional cost, says Dr. Nicholson. According to the 15-year employee at SHCS, the fees are assessed much like the health center fees, and “one of the cool things” about the program is that it “enhances the services [SHCS] provide to our students.”
Under this new law, students will have access to Ph.D psychologists and a full-time psychiatrist. Dr. Nicholson states that this team of mental health professionals will work together with the students to help diagnose mental health illnesses, develop strategies to help cope and prescribe medication if necessary.
Nevertheless, not everyone is thrilled with the idea of paying higher fees for services they may not need, and many are skeptical of the science associated with mental health illnesses. Chad Hartman, a Computer Science major at CSUSM told The Pride, “I feel that, in light of the budget cuts, the essentials of education should be the focus – not such non-vital services as psychiatry.” Biology major Julia Radwanski agreed: “Students already have counseling services, so I don’t support a fee increase that adds psychiatry when there is no way to test for chemical imbalances. Many kids just want to get their hands on drugs.”
Watchdog group, The Citizens Commission of Human Rights, echoes this skepticism. The group wrote, “Psychiatric disorders are not medical diseases. There are no lab tests, brain scans, X-rays or chemical imbalance tests that can verify any mental disorder is a physical condition.” Other wellness groups such as foodmatters.tv agree: “Of the 297 mental disorders contained with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, none can be objectively measured by pathological tests.”
Despite the controversy, Dr. Nicholson states that the rise in fees will provide services of which students may or may not take advantage. When asked if being overwhelmed was equivalent to mental illness, she said, “No. Seeing a counselor does not mean that you are crazy. I personally feel overwhelmed right now. I’m not saying that I’m crazy, but students may want to talk to someone who can talk with you [sic] objectively and put [your problems] in a different perspective.”
Students who want more information can contact a school psychologist at 760-750-4915, or simply walk-in to SHCS and make an appointment.
Photos courtesy of CSUSM.edu