The College of Education hosted the first of three presentations about mental health and resources available to students and faculty on Wednesday as part of a new initiative by the college’s dean.

The presentation focused on the stress, health and well-being of students, and a resource fair offered students more information about resources available to them on campus. Panelists included officials and a counselor from the College of Education.

“Students don’t always know about the resources available to them,” said Yvonne Taylor, College of Education media relations contact. “Part of this (event) is to highlight what resources are available.”

Charles Martinez, Jr., dean of the College of Education, said he cares about the well-being of students and how they handle stress and other issues.

“As a psychologist, this is a really big, important topic for me personally,” Martinez said. “I also happen to be the father of a 20-year-old sophomore in another university.”

Chris Brownson, associate vice president for Student Affairs for the College of Education said the leading issues students are seeking help for are depression, anxiety and stress. He said the number of students seeking help from counseling services has gone up in the past decade.

“(As a society) we haven’t embraced and begun to address on a larger level the things we need to do to stop this stress and anxiety and this loneliness and these feelings of depression,” Brownson said. “I think that’s the thing that I am really hopeful and optimistic (for) the next 10 years.” 

Panelists also discussed why they think more students are seeking help compared to past numbers.

“I think what’s changed is students are now more willing to come in and get support and talk about (issues),” Brownson said. “Some of that, I think, is because our counseling center has become a more diverse place.”

Richard Hogeda, assistant dean for Student Affairs for the College of Education, said he hopes students who attended the panel will feel faculty are willing to help them.

“One of the big takeaways is knowing where to turn to when (students) feel like there’s no one to turn to or understanding that within the college there’s connections and resources for them,” Hogeda said.

Most students in attendance were from the College of Education.

“This kind of conversation is so much what we talk about (in cohort discussions), and we’re all student teachers,” said Hadley Kopser, applied learning and development senior.