The Division of Student Engagement has grown by three, adding new staffers who will focus on mental wellness within the campus community. As the COVID-19 pandemic lingers, Mental Health resource assistants will be available to students, faculty, and staff.
Coahoma Community College aims to promote a healthy campus/residential life where the individual's mind is of top concern, and a safe space for feelings is identified. After a Student Engagement meeting pointed to a shortage in staffing, the department sought to build on its counseling unit led by Counseling Services coordinator Dr. Renee L. Hall.
"I have been serving as the only 24-hour counselor for the CCC campus, but now we've got the three added on, which gives the students more access," said Hall.
The Division of Student Engagement is pleased to welcome counselors Crystal Bradley, Andrea Williams, and Ciera Williams. An exciting prong of their responsibilities will be to keep students engaged with meets encouraging mental welfare, especially among residential students.
"Now, we have basically four of us on board to be accessible to the students when needed," Hall continued. "We have activities going on every single night now. Where I was doing so many, now we've got the three of them with the ones I normally do. So, we have something for them to do every single night. It'll be workshops, activities, talk shows, pajama parties, etc. We're doing a variety of a whole lot of things now."
Student Engagement Director Karen Woods-Done approached the search for more support staff with the effects of a drawn-out quarantine in mind.
"We've been in the midst of the pandemic for the past two years or so," noted Woods-Done. "So, we know that as a result, a lot of students, faculty, and staff have suffered tremendously in terms of mental health."
The three counseling assistants will primarily serve as a source of support, connect students with appropriate resources, and offer students, faculty, and staff techniques for addressing stress. Woods-Done leaned toward candidates that students could easily converse with to gain better life management skills.
"The job title is Mental Health Resource Assistant, and for that particular position, we sought employees who had some expertise in the areas of counseling and mental health and also who were able to develop a rapport with our students, faculty, and staff," Woods-Done continued. "These employees all are master level with a master's in behavioral health science."
Connect with either of the Counseling department's new Mental Health staffers located on the first floor of the Zee A. Barron Student Union in the Housing department office Monday through Friday from 6 to 9 each evening. Counseling assistant Crystal Bradley will be available from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Mondays and can be contacted at crystal.bradley@yahoo.com; Andrea Williams: dreananna@gmail.com; Ciera Williams: cierawilliams@gmail.com.