Screening service allows student self-evaluation
Griffin Baltz
Contributing Writer
The Counseling Center on campus has incorporated a new mental health screening service on their website, allowing students to take a short survey that evaluates mental health.
Many college students know the feeling of constant stress that comes from endless studying and long nights of homework. Between projects, exams, labs and readings, UMBC students likely have firsthand experience with the effects of academic stress on their mental health.
As a way for students to examine the effects of such stress on their health, the UMBC Counseling Center is now offering new online mental health screenings for students through the Ulifeline service.
“We have provided online screenings for many years, but recently switched to Ulifeline and we are actively working to promote this site,” said Counseling Center Outreach Coordinator Susan Han, Ph.D.
The free, anonymous and confidential screenings allow students to evaluate their own mental health and determine if they should seek any counseling or assistance. The screenings also work as an ongoing monitoring tool.
“Just as you get regular checkups to monitor your physical health, you can also take mental health screenings to monitor your psychological wellness,” said Han. “Online mental health screenings are not intended to take the place of in-person treatment, but they can be the first step in determining whether or not talking to a professional counselor could be beneficial.”
The screenings, which consist of a short survey, cover a variety of topics including depression, anxiety and drug use.
Ulifeline’s website states that the self-evaluation service is designed to screen for thirteen of the most common mental health conditions faced by college students. The screening is not meant to be a diagnosis, but a process for identifying any problems.
The screening service also provides contact information for the UMBC Counseling Center, encouraging concerned students to take advantage of the center’s resources.
“I feel like people might worry themselves through the screening,” said sophomore biochemistry major Nick Vaccaro. “People shouldn’t make those types of judgments without the proper credentials, although it could help individuals who don’t want to go to the counseling center in person.”
Nonetheless, Counseling Services hopes to provide a variety of quick resources and information on personal mental health and wellness lifestyles to UMBC students through ULifeline.
Source: http://my.umbc.edu/news/47020
