Dear Student,
Just before this semester began, I wrote to incoming students and their families and loved ones about making the transition to college and student wellbeing, and particularly about mental health. Although it has become more widely accepted to speak openly about mental health, I recognized that there are still cultural and social barriers to doing so. I wanted to establish this as an ongoing dialogue and a subject that is front and center for all.
As we wrap up mental health awareness week at Tufts, I wanted to continue this conversation with all of you. I think sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking that mental health promotion is mainly about counseling. Counseling is a critically important resource but there are so many more factors.
Mental health is supported by much more than counseling. Creating a vibrant, welcoming, and engaged community is an extremely powerful way to nurture and increase everyone’s emotional wellbeing. Being an active member of a community can substantially and positively shape everyone’s worldview and overall sense of satisfaction.
We are taking a comprehensive approach to supporting emotional wellbeing. I want to share what we have done and invite you to help us shape what we do in the future. Some of our initiatives may be apparent to you. However, others may be less obvious. For example, over the last two years:
- We established nine Residential Life Coordinators (RLCs) as full-time professional staff members who live on the Medford campus and at the SMFA Beacon Street residences and are responsible for promoting community in their assigned residence halls.
- We increased the number of Resident Assistants from 130 to 153 to lower the student to RA ratio.
- The SMFA student life staff has increased from three to five, and we are bringing services–such as CMHS and Career Services–to the Fenway campus on a regular basis to enhance access for SMFA students.
- The Student Outreach and Support team now has five dedicated staff members, and they are available to guide students through personal, family, and health challenges.
- Graduate students are benefitting from a newly created position within the Office of Student Outreach and Support that is dedicated to addressing their concerns. This is a first step in increasing support for our graduate students.
- The new executive director of Public Safety and her team are introducing innovative programs and making positive changes to TUPD’s culture and the diversity of its professional staff. We are partnering with them to build trust and respect among all members of our community.
- We have exciting new initiatives being planned to engage off-campus students, graduate students, and undergraduates throughout their four years at Tufts.
These changes are the first–but not the last–new initiatives aimed at bolstering the student experience on campus. There are many student support resources across campus, including programs and individual support offered through the StAAR center, the Chaplaincy, the Identity Centers, and the Counseling and Mental Health Service (CMHS). We want you to be aware of these resources and to take advantage of them.
Our Counseling and Mental Health Service, like our Health Service, provides excellent care for students, but they cannot cover every need. Some situations and conditions require support beyond what a college-based clinic can provide. In these cases, we can work with students to find appropriate care. We also recognize the need to be nimble, such that when situations arise that require additional outside resources, we have and will continue to bring those in.
CMHS offers individual and group treatment, support groups, workshops, community referral assistance, and more. Appointments can be made on-line, in person, or by phone. If you do not see what you need on-line, please call or stop by for additional appointment options. Help is also available 24/7 for any student experiencing a mental health crisis. You are strongly encouraged to explore the CMHS website to learn more about these services and resources.
Our programs and support options are always evolving to meet the changing needs of our students. To this end, we need and want your input. In the coming weeks and months, we will be soliciting your advice and ideas on numerous community-building opportunities. These will range from helping us promote food security for Tufts students, to expanding opportunities for civic engagement, and to reshaping our campus culture and community through restorative values.
Promoting your emotional wellbeing is paramount to us. Doing so is a partnership and collaboration among all of us at Tufts: yourself, your classmates, your faculty and staff. It is about engaging with and shaping our community. Community building and participation is a crucial life skill that we want to help you to foster and develop during your time at Tufts.
I hope this message might prompt conversations about what we can do, collectively, to support the wellbeing of everyone in our community. We are excited to actively engage with you and look forward to the many possibilities our partnership may bring.
With optimism,
Camille Lizarríbar, JD, PhD
Dean of Students for AS&E
