MCC Conference Aims to Strengthen Mental Health Support for Diverse Students
September 23, 2020
The intersection of three crises — COVID-19, economic struggles and racial injustices — has taken a harsh toll on the mental well-being of many college students and exposed health disparities in communities across New York state and the nation.
On Friday, Oct. 2, Monroe Community College will hold a virtual conference, Mental Health & Wellness in Diverse Communities, examining health disparities and how mental health impacts college students from diverse populations in an effort to better support students so they persist and graduate.
Leading experts, educators and leaders from various institutions and communities will address ways to mitigate psychological distress for diverse communities and cultivate effective learning environments on campus and via remote modes.
Prevalence of depression among U.S. college students ages 18-24 increased since spring 2020 compared with the previous semester, according to a survey of nearly 19,000 collegians on 14 campuses released in July by the Healthy Minds Network, based at the University of Michigan and Boston University. Of the approximately 41 percent who sought mental health care during the pandemic, 60 percent said it was either much more or somewhat more difficult to access care. State reports confirm COVID-19 disproportionately hits communities of color hardest.