Counseling Service Seeks More Immediate Delivery to Students
UNC is evaluating its mental health ciate director for clinical services at CWS. ship issues, depression — all the things that
screening procedures, as well as “It is possible that we might use a tele- can trigger strong emotion.”
student access to psychological phone triage, or the counseling might be in There also is a plan to involve faculty
care, with an eye toward same-day service person. The goal is for a student with any and parents. Jablonski said meetings are
and the ability to spot signs of stress more form of concern to speak with a counselor planned with professors in the fall to let
efficiently. about that concern immediately.” them know exactly what to do when they
“We are looking to increase the avail- In 2004, UNC began to revamp its spot trouble. Martin said CWS is con-ability of mental health appointments to counseling service after a string of student tributing information to the parents’
students,” said Glen Martin, psychologist suicides in 2003. Problems identified newsletter about the emotional issues faced
for Counseling and Wellness Services. “As included an overburdened staff and long by their college-age sons or daughters.
always, we want to open the doors as wide waits for appointments. Martin said that Campus Health Seras possible.” O’Barr said everything would be ready vices is developing a more robust Web
In the past two years, the University has for the students when they get back in presence, with its Web site ( shs.unc.edu)
added five full-time staff to its counseling August. giving information about the peer educa-service, including a psychiatrist, three Other programs on the way include a tion and gatekeeper training. It’s a way to
health educators and a case manager. Start- peer education program designed so that reach out to students reluctant to seek help.
ing this summer, any student who goes to students can help their classmates recognize “We want to create more awareness on
the counseling center is able to see a thera- signs of stress. campus, make it more of a community
pist the same day rather than waiting for an “We’ve recruited nine peer educators effort, rather than relying on one student to
appointment, said Margaret Jablonski, vice because students may not want to hear the identify himself/herself as depressed or
chancellor for student affairs. message from faculty or administrators,” anxious,” Martin said. “If you create an
“We want to make sure that the system Martin said. “The peer educators are avail- entire university aware of mental health,
is as cutting-edge as possible before we able to do workshops in the campus com- the community around those students can
implement it,” said Dr. Allen O’Barr, asso- munity about stress management, relation- tell them where to seek help.”
Senate Proposes $50 Million
Lineberger Commitment
New state Senate backing of the
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center could propel the center into the top tier of cancer
research centers in the U.S.
The Senate’s version of the state
budget would pump $50 million annually
into the center’s budget. The proposal
requires the support of the full N.C.
General Assembly.
“What’s been proposed
would present UNC with an
extraordinary opportunity,” said
Shelley Earp ’ 70 (MD), director
of the Lineberger center. “We
already have one of the country’s leading university-based
centers, but this would really
project us into the first rank.
This would provide us with the opportunity to go out and recruit some people ...
that would enable us to really make a difference in the state.”
According to Etta Pisano, vice dean
for academic affairs in the UNC medical
school, it is coming at an ideal time.
“North Carolina’s population is aging,
which means we’re going to have more
cancer,” she said. The proposal would
“create a flow of money that will allow
us to invest in the best people, the best
resources.”
The money primarily would come
from taxpayers and would be devoted to
cancer research at UNC Hospitals. The
number of people treated a
year could rise to 5,000 from
the current 3,000, officials say.
The center already is under-
going a major change. In 2004,
the General Assembly approved
$180 million to construct a
clinical cancer hospital on the
campus. It is now under con-
struction and expected to open
in late 2009.
“It’s going to allow us to enhance
the research that we do here,” Earp said.
“It will allow us to take these new ways
of early detection and prevention and
treatment and get them out across the
state.”
The number
of people treated
a year could
rise to 5,000
from the
current 3,000.
Online Digest
Read these stories in detail in From The Hill
Online at alumni.unc.edu
■ Autism research at UNC has received
a major endorsement from the U.S.
Department of Education in the form of
two grants totaling $8 million.
■ Access to online courses throughout
UNC System campuses is being made easier as the UNC System takes on the big
players in this field, offering more than 130
online degrees, certificates and licensures.
■ Two Carolina alumni are among the
six new members named to the UNC
System Board of Governors.
■ The suspect in last year’s Pit attack
has apologized. He’s also been found
competent to stand trial.
■ Water restrictions have been lifted
for four campus buildings where high
levels of lead had
been found in the
drinking water.
An investigation
determined lead
had leached from
brass fixtures.
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