Total Wellness

Studies indicate that students experiment with a variety of risky or unhealthy habits in college. Frequent tanning, drug and alcohol abuse, tobacco use and eating disorders are a reality on virtually every campus, and elite universities are no exception. In fact, according to a survey by the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, one in five Ivy League college students acknowledges that they have illegally used stimulants, often prescriptions intended to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), to concentrate longer and get better grades.

Experts often cite increased pressure on college students to succeed as a driving force behind dangerous unhealthy behavior. At Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), a continual effort is underway to preserve the emotional and physical wellness of all students.

“Everyone works toward the betterment of the student and providing the resources and whatever counseling they need,” said Margret Duran, assistant vice president of Student Services. “We have the Program of Assistance for Students, which handles anything from abuse to family relations and stress management right here at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.”

The Program of Assistance for Students is aimed at providing brief, incidental help for students struggling with emotional or psychological problems. The program and the similar Employee Assistance Program provide five free counseling sessions per fiscal year for any TTUHSC student, employee or faculty member. For individuals and families going through a difficult time, the sessions can provide insight into how to regroup before stress leads to unhealthy behaviors.

“I liken us to a primary care doctor,” said Alan Korinek, Ph.D., executive director of the Program of Assistance for Students. “People come to us first when they are experiencing a situation that is causing stress for them. If we can treat it within the five or so sessions, we do. If it looks like it is beyond the scope of what we can do in length or expertise, we will get them to the very best mental health provider that we can.”

The wellness services offered by the Program of Assistance for Students may include anything from crisis counseling to stress management, Korinek explained. Some services are brought into the classroom to assist students without them even needing to make an appointment.

“We provide critical incident stress management, as well as general stress management,” Korinek said. “Some programs have me come in every fall for the first-year class and use a full 50-minute class session just to talk about stress management. These are all things the Program of Assistance for Students can provide.”

The services of the Program of Assistance for Students are available at all regional campuses, but may not cover the full range of wellness needs students have. To help students in those cases, TTUHSC also has created arrangements to ensure that all students receive the help they need.

“In conjunction with the Program of Assistance for Students at TTUHSC, students on the TTUHSC Lubbock campus are eligible to go to Texas Tech University and utilize its counseling center and wellness center,” Duran said. “Being that close to our sister institution gives them many more resources. At our regional campuses, we have set up contracts with counseling centers to provide what they may need. Each campus is able to reach out and address some of these issues.”

The TTUHSC Office of Student Services recognizes that stress students face throughout their education is often overwhelming. The Student Services team strives to create ways for students to alleviate their school stress before a potentially hazardous health habit even begins.

“It’s a very stressful environment and creates an emotional need,” Duran said. “Material is coming at them fast and furiously. Expectations on them are high, from their families and mostly from themselves. Students need a release during that stressful time. The emotional need for that support system must be met. We try to create a stress-free environment in our office. We have an open door policy and they can always come talk to us, even if it is just to vent.”

Duran believes that rest is critical to performing well and feeling well as a student at TTUHSC. She says the activities through student organizations, like TTUHSC Student Government Association, are of immense benefit to stressed students.

“The best resources for maintaining a well student body are the students themselves,” Duran said. “I tell the students that they need to look after each other. If they see a person is struggling or if they notice something is wrong, they have a responsibility to each other to let someone know and make sure that student is okay.”

Duran believes most of the students do make an effort to ensure the wellness of their classmates. As future health care providers, TTUHSC students already have a desire to promote and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“They are leaders,” Duran said. “They know what it is to be healthy. We are talking to a new generation that is passionate about health. They are conscious of how long and well they want to live and what they want to achieve.”