TTU Counseling Center Still Seeing Large Need From Students

Tennessee Tech’s Counseling Center still seeing a large need for services from its students.

Director Christina Mick said there was an influx during COVID, and the need is ongoing.

“There is a mental health crisis on college campuses nationwide and it’s linked to COVID among other things,” Mick said.  “But the number one things colleges nationwide are seeing are an increase in loneliness, stress, and sleep deprivation.”

Mick said the center recently added a psychiatric nurse practitioner as another way to support students. She said that just like there was a demand for counseling services, there was also a demand for psychiatric needs. She said the service helps mitigate wait times for students to get their necessary medications.

Mick said last academic year, the center performed more than 2,000 sessions.  She said the center started decades ago in the 60s or 70s, and has only expanded its efforts since.

“And our end goal is to support our students and teach them ways to have health wellness and wellbeing when they graduate Tech and to carry those things on,” Mick said. “But the most important thing is we want to graduate well students but the most important thing is to support them and help them find success while they’re here.”