The University of North Dakota Counseling Center has experienced increased utilization of its mental health services, driven by campus programs that promote mental health support and reduce stigma. According to Carolyn Broden, associate director of operations, decreasing stigma around mental health and therapy, coupled with expanded telehealth accessibility, have contributed to rising client numbers. University leadership support and student government backing have also bolstered the center’s ability to provide services.
Green Bandana and Related Programs
The Green Bandana Project, a major visibility initiative, trains students in the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale to help peers assess their needs. About 530 students have completed the training and wear green bandanas to signal they can be approached for help. Students report that classmates with green bandanas have encouraged them to schedule appointments, and some have accompanied peers to the center for assistance. The program began in 2019 through the Athletics Department but expanded campus-wide in fall 2021 following the suicide of commercial aviation student John Hauser. A parallel Green Tag Project for faculty and staff launched in fall 2023, with almost 300 participants receiving bag tags or door magnets. The largest single training session occurred after Hauser’s death, with 206 students attending in one weekend. The center has also trained law enforcement and medical providers in tailored versions of the program.
Expanded Services and Accessibility
The UpLift Program, designed for aviation students, has trained about 60 students in eight to 12 hours of specialized training. The Let’s Talk Program, developed with housing, offers low-barrier access through confidential consultations and activities held 12-4 p.m. on Tuesdays in Wilkerson Commons. The Counseling Center maintains 10 licensed providers and provides individual, group, and couples therapy, crisis sessions, and psychological evaluations. Services are covered by student fees except for evaluations. Through the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, the center offers telehealth to 43 states, serving distance students who pay fees but lack in-person access.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/und-counseling-center-sees-support-from-students-staff-and-outside-sources-for-mental-health