THE RECORD
PEACE OF MIND
Mental health resources evolve to support the changing needs of UC San Diego students .
BY ERIKA JOHNSON ’ 11
When Reina Juarez first arrived at UC San Diego in August 1988 , she was the first woman of color to serve as director of mental health services within the University of California system . Over the past three decades , she has grown Counseling and Psychological Services , or CAPS , from a staff of 13 to more than 40 psychologists , licensed clinical social workers , psychiatrists and post-doctoral residents who serve the campus ’ growing student population , now 40,000 strong .
Like all of us , our students have been challenged by the ongoing pandemic and global issues . How are they doing ? One of the echoes of the pandemic is heightened mental health concerns , from more anxiety and depression to substance abuse and eating disorders . Just living in this volatile , unpredictable world , we have to be constantly on our toes , adjusting and readjusting . The good thing is that our students are reaching out and they are open to using resources . We find that students are attending both in-person as well as virtual offerings , from connecting one-on-one with CAPS counselors through video visits , to attending interactive workshops and engaging with self-guided programs .
What are the unique mental health needs of our graduate and professional students ? Similar to undergraduates , our graduate and professional students must navigate academic relationships with their faculty advisors and principal investigators . However , their journey presents unique needs because they are at a different stage in their life ; for instance , some are married with a family and have more financial concerns . Their academic programs are longer as well , with motivation and confidence levels rising and falling over time . In addition , graduate and professional students may face isolation if their field is highly specialized . For all of these life circumstances , we are there to help .
18 TRITON | SPRING 2022