Dr. Darien McFadden
May 20, 2023
Dear Amherst College Students and Families,
Congratulations on your student’s acceptance to Amherst College!
Preparing for your student to go to college is an amazing time filled with many opportunities, questions, and anxieties. Over the past few years, the mental health of adolescents has become part of a national narrative across the United States. Evidence supports the idea that the current generation going off to college is more open to mental health support than previous generations. They can speak about emotional support in a sophisticated way and demand services at a level never seen before.
As caregivers, you may be concerned about how to support your student as they enter this new phase in their life. The questions and answers below are provided by our Center for Counseling and Mental Health (CCMH) staff to give you some tools and tips for creating a plan with your student to support them and help them thrive with regard to mental health and well-being.
We hope this information is helpful to you and your student during this period of transition. Preparing your student to enter an exciting, rewarding, and demanding environment like Amherst College can feel quite overwhelming. Please remember that there are many professionals on our campus who are dedicated to student support and who work hard to assist all Amherst students in making the most of their experience.
Welcome to the herd!!
Sincerely,
Dr. Darien McFadden
Director, Center for Counseling and Mental Health
Student Mental Health & the Transition to Amherst College
A Guide for Students and Families
Your questions answered by the Amherst College Center for Counseling and Mental Health (CCMH)
My student has a history of mental illness and has a strong support network at home. What should I do to make sure they get treatment while at school?
We know that the first year of college creates a lot of vulnerabilities and it is CRUCIAL for students to have a plan to help them access support as they navigate novel stressors. As a caregiver, you can take the lead by finding direct answers to your questions. At CCMH, we try to be transparent about all available clinical services on our website. Learn more on the CCMH website.
Every college is different in terms of services and associated costs to students. We are proud to be able to offer both short-psychotherapy and psychiatry at no financial cost to students. We also know that some students may want ongoing weekly therapy or specialty care that is beyond the scope of our practice. We encourage you to learn more about how such limits would impact your student’s treatment. The evolution of telehealth has made continuing treatment with home providers more possible than ever (though still with some interstate restrictions). We encourage you to talk to your student’s current providers and with your student directly to develop a plan that will maximize support and treatment for them as they enter college.
Wait, you mean the College may not be able to meet all of my student’s mental health needs?
This is true. Think of CCMH as a primary care office: we wouldn’t anticipate receiving specialist-related cardiac treatment from our primary care physician. We would anticipate a referral to a cardiologist, however. The same is true at CCMH. We will always rely on our best clinical judgment with regard to assessing the needs of students, and will always make recommendations that honor your student’s unique treatment needs. This may sometimes require a referral to a community-based provider for specialty care.
I think my student would benefit from weekly therapy for the entirety of their time at Amherst College. What should I do?
CCMH has developed a robust community referral network with the help of our case management team. You can contact our office directly at 413-542-2354 to talk about your student’s needs and what the appropriate options are. It could also be helpful to get a sense of what insurance benefits will be available for your student once they are in the state of Massachusetts. Our case management team can help with that, as well.
I think my student would benefit from seeing a therapist, but they are reluctant to reach out. I think there is still some shame for them in admitting they could use support. What should I do?
While the stigma around accessing mental health support has decreased dramatically over the past decades, some young people are still hesitant to seek help. It’s also important to acknowledge that, as a caregiver, you may be far away and concerned for the health and safety of your student as they embark on this new challenge. It’s important to consider that discussions around mental health and wellness are becoming more normalized within the Amherst College community. It’s not uncommon for colleges to initiate discussions about wellness and wellbeing outside of counseling services (often in collaboration with health services or a health education department). We encourage you to explore what kind of wellness-related offerings are available here on campus. Learn more about health education. You might also consider the utilization rate of the counseling services at Amherst – the number of students using counseling services each year. Utilization rates are typically around 10-20% or higher at smaller institutions. Our utilization rate at CCMH is much higher than the national average, which we believe suggests a higher comfort level with utilizing mental health services on the part of our students when compared to other institutions.
I want to make sure my student has support if they have a mental health emergency. How do I ensure that this will happen?
Amherst College offers 24/7 urgent and emergency mental health support, which is accessible to all matriculated students, regardless of the time of year or whether they are at home or on campus. Students can easily access this resource by calling the main CCMH line at 413-234-2354. Amherst College also participates in a “care report” program, in which any member of the community can write a care report for a student if they are concerned about their wellbeing. The care report is then distributed to appropriate campus professionals who can respond in a caring and sensitive manner. Learn more about care reports.
My student holds a traditionally marginalized identity and I am concerned that discrimination may impact their mental health in college. What should I do?
Supporting students from marginalized communities (e.g., BIPOC , LGBTQIA+, international, differently-abled, etc.) has appropriately become a larger focus for colleges and universities across the country, and Amherst College is no different. We recommend that parents and guardians familiarize themselves with the identity-based resource centers on campus. Also take time to explore what collaborative programming may intersect with campus mental health services. These centers have wonderful staff that are dedicated to supporting our students’ intersecting identities.
My student has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)/504 from high school. Can I ensure their accommodations carry over into college?
The U.S. Department of Education has acknowledged that the number of students utilizing special education services has increased. Unfortunately, transitioning formal accommodations from a high school IEP is not automatic. As a caregiver, you can help facilitate the transfer of accommodations by connecting with Amherst College’s Accessibility Services office. This office will assist you in preparing the necessary documentation so your student can work with the office to explore accommodations when they arrive on campus or even in preparation of it.