CLQ01012021 - Page 9

BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY Caribbean Life, JANUARY 1-7, 2021 9 �� As our nation continues the fight against the spread of COVID-19 infections and traditional holiday celebrations shift to social distancing and virtual events, many college students are at home struggling with the “new norm.” Many are still coping with the transition to online learning, following the emergency closure of campuses in the spring; and even more are dealing with financial hardships. At Kingsborough Community College (KCC), for example, anxiety, stress, and depression were the three top reasons students sought mental health services during the spring of 2020 (as reported by the College’s Counseling Center). Like many colleges across the country, at KCC we pivoted and took a more intentional approach to delivering services and outreach. In October of this year, the Mental Health Virtual Check-In went live and since that time we have seen a steady increase of students seeking support for academic-related stress and anxiety. After meeting with a counselor in the Mental Health Virtual Check-In format, some students have requested to be connected to a counselor so they can receive ongoing counseling through the Counseling Center. We expect to see a rise in students in need of additional support. The Counseling Center staff is equipped with full-time and part-time mental health counselors and graduate interns who are prepared to manage the requests for mental health support. In addition, since the pandemic started, KCC has hosted a monthly Dean’s Dialogue open to all students. Mental health services are discussed, and students hear how our interns (students in mental health counseling programs at senior colleges) have approached the pandemic, uncertainty, and adjusting their goals. Dr. Brian Mitra, dean of Student Affairs, has held specific Dean’s Dialogues with targeted student cohorts, including Men’s Resources Center, Student Government/ Club Leaders, Student- Athletes, College Discovery, CUNY EDGE, TRiO/Access- Ability students, and others. “We know that our students need the support, however, they are overwhelmed with taking classes, being a caregiver, loss of loved ones and jobs, and the uncertainty, amongst other things. We are prepared to increase our caseload and adjust to the needs of our students in the upcoming winter module and spring semester,” said Mitra. Through the support of CARES monies, we are following a more intentional outreach approach focusing on students in: Athletics, College Discovery, Veterans Affairs, Center for Workforce and Economic Development, Career Services, CUNY EDGE, Student Government/Clubs & Organizations, Men’s Resource Center, the Advisement Academies, ASAP, ESL, KLIP, and KELI. We have increased mental health screenings, check-in hours, extended evening hours, added professional development and training for our Counseling and Health Services staff, developed student focus groups to hear what their needs are in these uncertain times and updated technology to ensure our telehealth needs and systems are current and comprehensive. We are here to fully support our college students. These initiatives are part of the foundation of services we provide, including one-on-one personal counseling, emergency and crisis intervention, workshops, events, and student support groups. Managing mental health may seem like a ton of weights, but students don’t have to carry the weights on their own. Dr. Claudia V. Schrader is president of Kingsborough Community College (KCC), a 72-acre academic oasis located in beautiful Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn that offers students affordable two-year degrees for their future. For more information or updates about events and support sessions, please call (718) 368-5975 or e-mail Counselingandhealth. services@kbcc.cuny.edu. EDUCAT I O N PROFI LE College Students Don’t Have to Manage Mental Stress on Their Own �� DRX9000TM RELIEVES BACK PAIN Surgeons perform an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 back surgeries every year. Annually, neurosurgeons perform at least 100,000 operations for lumbar disc disease alone, and orthopedic surgeons perform a similar number. It is estimated that between 20% and 40% of these operations are unsuccessful. That is why doctors from all over the country are racing to acquire and get trained to operate the DRX9000TM, an FDA approved device that is saving thousands of Americans suffering from chronic back pain from going under the knife. 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Thanks to the DRX9000TM, disc herniation sufferers finally have a non-surgical solution.” The main conditions the DRX9000TM has documented success with are back pain, sciatica, herniated and/or bulging discs (single or multiple), degenerative disc disease, facet syndromes and a relapse or failure following back surgery. Anyone wishing to learn more about this new FDA approved solution to back pain or to set up an appointment for a free consultation call Dr. Keller’s office at 718 234-6212 or visit Brooklyn Spine Center, 5911 16th Ave., Brooklyn, New York 11204. Brooklynspinecenter.com. S f i d 3 Local doctor treats herniated and bulging discs, sciatica, and serious lower back pain WITHOUT BACK SURGERY link /Brooklynspinecenter.com link