Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Meet the Mason Nation: Rachel Wernicke, associate dean and chief mental health officer

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 14:53:28 +0000

Meet the Mason Nation: Rachel Wernicke, associate dean and chief mental health officer Lauren Reuscher Wed, 02/21/2024 - 09:53

Rachel Wernicke

Job: Associate Dean and Chief Mental Health Officer, University Life

Rachel Wernicke has worked as an Army officer, psychologist, therapist, and coach. In 2019, she moved into her current role: associate dean and chief mental health officer at ��ӽ紫ý.

Rachel Wernicke, associate dean and chief mental health officer at Mason. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

At that time, University Life at Mason created the role of chief mental health officer to address student mental health from a more strategic, public health approach. This decision happened at a critical moment, just before the world entered the greatest mental health challenge of a generation: a global pandemic.

A group effort: “We continue to see significant need for mental health support in students, faculty, and staff,” Wernicke said. “Supporting mental health takes a whole campus effort, with the engagement of our entire Mason community and a commitment to creating a culture and providing the programs and services that sustain mental health and well-being.”

According to Wernicke, nearly every role on campus is connected to this work, “even if on the surface it may not seem so,” she said.

Supporting the troops: Wernicke’s time as an Army captain influenced her decision to become a psychologist. “A core Army leadership practice focuses on caring for people,” Wernicke said. “Learning how to do this when I served as an Army officer led me to study psychology and become a therapist.” The leadership lessons she learned in the Army continue to shape her leadership style today.

Passion for education: As a therapist in training, Wernicke had the opportunity to work in college mental health, and she loved working with students. “Although I’ve practiced in hospitals and other settings, I kept returning to higher education over the years,” Wernicke said.

Wernicke serves as cochair of Mason’s Mental Health and Well-Being Task Force. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Mental health as the second pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic brought increased attention to the need for expanded mental health care. As a result, Mason has adapted and expanded its mental health services for students.

“Both Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and Student Health Services (SHS) had to shift their services to meet the needs of students during the pandemic,” Wernicke said. “The most critical shift was to offer telemental health services for students.”

Answering the call: The number of students seeking mental health services is rising, both at Mason and nationally, continuing a trend that was underway before the pandemic. From 2010 to 2020, the total number of students served by Mason’s CAPS increased by 55%. The growing demand for services hasn’t stopped.

“As of January 2024, just over halfway through our fiscal year, CAPS has supported more than 1,100 students,” Wernicke said. “This compares to 1,254 students served during the entirety of the previous fiscal year.”

Multiple avenues for care: SHS also provides mental health care to students. “SHS provides universal screening for depression and substance use concerns to all students being seen by a health care provider,” Wernicke said. “Any student who screens positive for these concerns is offered treatment.”

In the 2023 fiscal year, SHS had 725 behavioral health interactions with students, a 266% increase from the prior year.

Mason launched a partnership with a telemental health vendor, TimelyCare, in fall 2022. This care option reaches students wherever they are located, at whatever time is convenient for them. Through TimelyCare, students may access free mental health services 24/7, 365 days a year. As of January 2024, TimelyCare has provided mental health services to 1,518 Mason students since its launch.

Planning for the future: Mason continues to evolve its approach to supporting mental health. Wernicke serves as cochair of Mason’s Mental Health and Well-Being Task Force with Nance Lucas, executive director of Mason’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being.

“We are working to raise awareness of the resources available to our community and to make recommendations for programs, policies, practices, and services that will support a culture of mental health and well-being at Mason,” Wernicke said.

The task force includes students, faculty, and staff from across the university. “The charge is both aspirational and practical, focusing on creating a systems approach to mental health and well-being at Mason,” Wernicke said.

Putting ideas into action: This year, their goals are to identify a Mason model of mental health and well-being, recommend ways that well-being and mental health services can be expanded, enhance the inclusiveness of these programs and services, and increase community awareness of what is already available. The Patriots Thriving Together hub has been created as a starting point for Mason students and employees to find resources.

Finding joy: Practicing what she preaches, Wernicke finds ways to support her own well-being. “I have three kids—they’re in college, high school, and middle school—so keeping up with their activities and staying connected with them is a priority,” Wernicke said. “Music is a major source of well-being for me and something I enjoy with my family.” She also finds joy and relaxation by exercising, running, spending time with friends, and cooking.

Support from all around: Wernicke says she thrives at Mason because of the people around her. “I’m lucky to be able to work with some of the most talented and committed clinicians, educators, and advocates in CAPS, SHS, and Disability Services,” Wernicke said. “I appreciate being able to work with people from across the university who are committed to student health and well-being.”

Mental health and well-being resources at Mason:

Patriots Thriving Together
Counseling and Psychological Services: 703-993-2380
Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC): SSAC Support Request
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to reach a crisis counselor
TimelyCare
Mason's Center for Community Mental Health

Watch Wernicke’s Tedx Talk, “Mental Health in the New Normal: Shaping Our COVID Stories,” for more insights about the pandemic’s impact on mental health and well-being.

Watch Wernicke's Tedx Talk

Mental Health and Well-Being Resources at Mason

Meet more of the Mason Nation

Meet the Mason Nation: Mihee Cho
June 19, 2024
Meet the Mason Nation: Kevin Brim
April 26, 2024
Meet the Mason Nation: Rachel Wernicke, associate dean and chief mental health officer
February 23, 2024
Meet the Mason Nation: Doug McKenna, University Registrar
January 12, 2024
Meet the Mason Nation: Will Gautney, assistant master electrician and Staff Senate chair
October 20, 2023

Topics

Meet the Mason Nation

Faculty and Staff News

Well-Being

Mental Health

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Student Health Services

Women's History Month

Mason offers options for mental health assistance, suicide prevention

Colleen Rich — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 16:29:45 +0000

Mason offers options for mental health assistance, suicide prevention Colleen Rich Fri, 09/02/2022 - 12:29

Information presented in this article may be triggering to some people. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

As part of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, ��ӽ紫ý mental health leaders want to educate the campus community about the issues surrounding suicide and mental health, enabling Patriots to take part in suicide prevention, help others in crisis, and change the conversation around suicide.

College brings the excitement of increased freedom as well as the potential for anxiety-related to adjusting to living away from home, studying, and defining one’s identity. These stressors can serve as triggers for anxiety and depression, as well as emotional distress. These feelings could lead to suicidal thoughts or actions, creating tremendous and possibly dangerous implications if help is not sought out.

While COVID has begun to normalize conversations about mental health, a public stigma around suicide can prevent people from getting the help they need. One dangerous myth is that asking someone about suicidal thoughts will lead that person toward the behavior, said Jennifer Kahler, director of Mason’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

“But that’s not the case,” Kahler said. When suicide is spoken about with a focus on overcoming ideation and utilizing positive, hopeful and inspiring language, these conversations are highly beneficial and can prevent suicide.

“Asking about suicide actually opens the conversation so that those thinking about suicide don’t feel so alone,” said Mason psychology professor Christianne Esposito-Smythers, director of the Center for Evidence-Based Behavioral Health at Mason. “Oftentimes people will hide their thoughts from others and may feel as if no one will understand what they are going through. Asking others with warning signs about suicidal thoughts decreases the chance of suicidal actions.”

Mason provides student mental health resources and suicide prevention tools through a number of resources, including the MasonCARES Suicide Prevention Program, a two-hour gatekeeping program designed to train faculty, staff, and students in how to respond to individuals who may be experiencing distress and suicidal thoughts and guide them in seeking appropriate assistance through CAPS.

If someone is showing displays of behaviors such as anxiety, articulating a lack of purpose, stating feelings of being trapped or hopeless, not attending class or withdrawing from activities, experiencing mood swings, etc., these may be suicide warning signs.

“Training is one of the key parts of suicide prevention at Mason,” Kahler said. “MasonCARES educates faculty, students and staff on how to support students in distress by teaching them the right questions to ask, what to say and when to get them help. If individuals have training and recognize worrisome signs, say something to the student, and reach out to CAPS, that could make all the difference in getting that student help that they otherwise wouldn’t have gotten.”

CAPS offers students immediate free assistance; there is no billing office and no insurance is required. Initial appointments are virtual, and providers work with students to find out their preferred method of treatment moving forward.

Any assistance students receive from CAPS is confidential and is kept separate from academic records, Kahler added.

Another option for students is Mason’s Center for Psychological Services, where evidence-based, accessible, affordable and culturally sensitive therapy and testing services are provided by Mason graduate students under clinical supervision. Other services include an emotional support line and short-term intervention sessions.

One of the center’s goals is to train clinicians in evidence-based treatment, which incorporates suicide screening. This type of treatment is critical because it helps individuals to “become their own therapist, with lifelong skills such as the ability to effectively problem-solve, evaluate thoughts, manage strong emotions and communicate in a way that others will listen,” Esposito-Smythers said.

If you are concerned about your ability to keep yourself or others safe, contact CAPS Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday between 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. or Wednesdays between noon and 4:30 p.m. at 703-993-2380.

For mental health crises after hours, call 703-993-2380 and select option 1 to connect with a crisis counselor.

Other suicide prevention or mental health resources can be found on the After-Hours Crisis Support page.

Facts about Suicide

According to the World Health Organization, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among adolescents 15–19 years of age. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows 1 in 4 adults ages 18–24 contemplated suicide in June 2020. A study of the rates of mental illness on U.S. campuses during the summer of 2020 indicated that as many as 1 in 3 college students was suffering from depression during the first year of the pandemic, which was twice as many as in 2019, with students also reporting higher rates of anxiety disorders.

Topics

Campus News

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Suicide Prevention

College of Humanities and Social Sciences Center for Psychological Services

Ukraine Crisis Student Support Fund accepting applications for aid

Colleen Rich — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 16:58:56 +0000

Ukraine Crisis Student Support Fund accepting applications for aid Colleen Rich Wed, 03/23/2022 - 12:58

In response to the growing need within the ��ӽ紫ý community, the Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC) recently launched the application for the Ukraine Crisis Student Support Fund (UCSSF). The fund is available to Mason students from Ukraine and Russia who are experiencing financial challenges and hardships due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“The war has not only affected our students psychologically and emotionally, but also financially. Our international students from the region have in some cases been cut off from family support as their loved ones back home are fighting for survival,” Maggie Olszewska, SSAC director said. “My hope is that with the help of this fund they are able to stay at Mason, graduate and pursue careers in their field.”

Because the banking systems in Ukraine and Russia have been negatively impacted, many students need jobs on top of financial assistance. SSAC offers resource navigation to such campus partners as University Career Services, which can help with resume preparation and the job search, and International Programs and Services, which can assist international students with filing for work authorization.

In addition to financial assistance through UCSSF, students can also receive access to the Patriot Pantry, which provides nonperishable food and hygiene products.

Most important, however, is the availability of counseling services. Olszewska said the impact of war and the uncertainty of what is happening with their family and friends back home will leave a permanent scar. Students can seek support at Counseling and Psychological Services or through the Center for Psychological Services Emotional Support Line.

"Even thought our students are safe physically, some may be living with trauma," she said." Students can and should seek out support services at Mason. Anyone who is worried about a student is encouraged to submit a referral."

UCSSF is made possible through the generous support of ��ӽ紫ý and donors committed to helping students. If you would like to donate to UCSSF, click here.

Topics

Campus News

Students

Ukraine

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC)

Mason offers expanded options for emotional support

Colleen Rich — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 15:09:16 +0000

Mason offers expanded options for emotional support Colleen Rich Thu, 03/03/2022 - 10:09

Patriots Thriving Together, an awareness campaign that focuses on improving and sustaining mental health and well-being, is offering the ��ӽ紫ý community new opportunities to access mental health services.

“Navigating the pandemic has overwhelmed most people, and many of us have difficulty managing stress, low energy levels and a lack of motivation,” Robyn Mehlenbeck, director of Mason's Center for Psychological Services, said. “It’s so important to address these issues, normalize emotions and reactions, and give people the skills to help them cope with the evolving pandemic and other stressors.”

The Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being, Student Health Services and the Center for Psychological Services recently joined together to ensure all members of the Mason community—faculty, staff, students and contractors—have immediate free access to brief mental health services.

While CAPS has been available for Mason students, now staff, faculty and contractors can access this free service. An emotional support telephone line 703-215-1898 is open from 8:30 a.m. – 8: 30 p.m., seven days a week. Anyone in the Mason community—faculty, staff, contractors, or students—can speak to trained mental health and first-aid facilitators who will provide specific ways to reduce anxiety and to increase energy.

Those who feel as though they need more support can sign up for the second step: in-person or virtual Brief Therapy Skills. Here individuals are offered up to three free one-hour sessions with trained doctoral students where they can talk through their struggles and learn targeted and active coping skills to tackle their concerns.

If more than the initial three hours are needed, individuals can move on to step three, which includes additional therapy sessions on an income-based sliding scale that is significantly discounted over the going rate in the community. In addition, sliding-scale medication management services are also offered through this program, if needed.

“It’s often difficult for people in the middle of a stressful situation to either recognize that they need help, or to feel like they can take the time to get it,” said Keith Renshaw, Psychology Department chair and professor. “These services offer tips and strategies that people can use to manage their stress and reduce their anxiety, depression, or simply feeling overwhelmed. It’s quick but highly effective, and it can make a real difference in their day-to-day living.”

Those faculty and staff who work with and are relied upon by students are encouraged to consult a resource created by University Life, which helps navigate difficulties students are facing including health concerns, personal losses, isolation, race-based violence, or uncertainty about their future. The information contained here can help faculty and staff recognize students’ concerns and guide them in managing challenges.

Mason is committed to helping support the well-being and mental health of its entire community and encourages anyone in need of assistance to reach out.

For more information, visit the Center for Psychological Services Emotional Support Resources website.

Topics

Faculty and Staff News

Patriots Thriving Together

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Center for the Advancement of Well-Being

Mason’s Counseling and Psychological Services continues to support student well-being virtually

Colleen Rich — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 09:00:56 +0000

Mason’s Counseling and Psychological Services continues to support student well-being virtually Colleen Rich Thu, 06/25/2020 - 05:00

Topics

Counseling

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

University Life

Campus News