Self care is critical. Remember, fighting racism is a marathon, not a sprint. During a time of crisis, we can feel overwhelmed by the need to be urgently responding without respite.

• The Black Emotional And Mental Health Collective notes that “Black people are 7 times more likely to live in areas with limited access to mental health care… and only a third of Black people who need mental health services receive treatment.” Check out their website. https://www.beam.community
• TWLOHA has a list of mental health referrals that focus directly on the Black community.
• The Black Lives Matters organization has a resource page that includes a Healing Justice Toolkit and a Healing Action Toolkit.

In light of recent, national events that have highlighted acts of racism, injustice and police brutality directed at the Black community, the New Jersey College Counseling Association (NJCCA) wants to express solidarity with the ongoing conversations and movements directed towards dismantling the structures and beliefs that maintain inequality and racism.  The NJCCA believes that by working towards freedom and justice for Black people, we are, by extension, taking one of many steps towards addressing and combating how these forces are affecting all marginalized groups within the collective humanity as well.

The various ethical codes, multicultural guidelines and standards for cultural competence of our professional disciplines call upon us to “respect the dignity and worth of all people”, to “not knowingly participate in or condone activities of others based upon such prejudices” and to “address institutional barriers and related inequities, disproportionalities, and disparities”. They dictate that we self-reflect on our attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and skills to identify ways in which we can support, empower, and advocate for others, while also identifying ways in which our limitations in these areas may also be adding to further marginalization. Thus, in addition to determining what meaningful contributions can be made, the NJCCA will also use this time to reflect how the organization can better serve the Black community as well as identify and eliminate any practices within the organization that may encourage marginalization and oppression.

As college mental health clinicians, we encourage all of our members to also examine the degree to which their institutions and sub-communities may be engaging in racist and/or prejudiced practices. Universities and colleges that house systems that promote marginalization and isolation can be harmful to the mental health of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color and for those students who have a pre-existing mental illness, such acts of alienation can worsen their condition (Primm, 2018). In addition to facing stigma around mental health treatment, Black college students have reported fears “related to mistrust of providers and limited cultural sensitivity,” (Busby, et. al., 2019) leading them to seek support more often elsewhere. Among ethnic minority students, Black college students historically report the least favorable evaluations of campus climates and endorse higher levels of race‐related stressors (McClain, et. al., 2016). As college counselors, we have the unique opportunity to offer and re-configure our clinical resources and supports towards addressing the mental health issues of Black college students. We can take the much-needed steps of also addressing individual, interpersonal and institutional racism within our respective higher education institutions.

Busby, D. R. Zheng, K., Eisenberg, D., Albucher, R.C., Favorite, T., Coryell, W., Pistorello, J., & King, C.A. (2019) Black college students at elevated risk for suicide: barriers to mental health service utilization. J. Am. Coll. Health, 36(1), pp. 1-7

McClain, S., Beasley, S.T., Jones, B., Awosogba, O., Jackson, S., & Cokley, K. (2016).  An examination of the impact of racial and ethnic identity, impostor feelings, and minority status stress on the mental health of black college students.  Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 44, 101-117

Primm, A. (2018, July). College Students of Color: Overcoming Mental Health Challenges. National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/July-2018/College-Students-of-Color-Overcoming-Mental-Health

Follow #DrewWithU and stay connected to the campus!

Follow DrewCounseling (that’s us!) and DrewStuAct (Drew Student Activities) on Instagram.

Yoga will continue every Friday at 2 pm through the summer. Gentle Yoga and Meditation with Cynthia Bearison will continue. You can leave your camera off! https://zoom.us/j/664192001

Drew Student Activities Created a Quarantine Virtual Survival Guide which includes a list of virtual activities, events, and meet-ups.

Don’t forget our Self Help Resource Page!

There are some free resources from Calm.com: https://www.calm.com/blog/take-a-deep-breath

Of course, mindfulness practice can be very helpful: https://www.mindful.org/how-mindfulness-can-help-you-navigate-the-coronavirus-panic/

Active Minds has some online resources for university students.

Scientific American posted an article on how to preserve your mental health while avoiding physical proximity: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-prevent-loneliness-in-a-time-of-social-distancing/

The American Psychological Association features Baruch Fischhoff, Ph.D. with an audio podcast on coronavirus anxiety. Find it at https://www.apa.org/research/action/speaking-of-psychology/coronavirus-anxiety It’s worth a listen to.

During the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, Drew Counseling and Psychological Services will attempt to maintain continuity with your counseling sessions. Your therapist will provide remote therapy sessions at your regularly scheduled time.

You will need access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone in order to use the communication software that is fully protected. If you don’t have good internet access, we can conduct your session with a phone call. You should also arrange to be in a quiet, private space where you are comfortable talking with your therapist for that time.

Doxy.me is a telemedicine video conferencing website that was created for doctors and therapists to privately and confidentially video chat with their patients. It is compliant with both HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and the HITECH Act (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act).

Note: Doxy.me or Zoom cannot be used for emergencies or to contact the therapist between scheduled sessions. In case of emergency on campus, call Public Safety 973-408-4444 or, if off-campus, call 911.

How to Use Doxy.me for Remote Therapy

In order to start therapy:

1. Your therapist will send a link to your Drew email before your session.
2. Clicking on this link at the beginning of your scheduled session time will take you directly to your therapist’s private, confidential Doxy.me account.
3. You will be prompted by Doxy.me to type in your name so your therapist can see that you have checked into their “waiting room.”
4. After you have done this, your therapist can begin the session.

In Case of Technology Failure

If your scheduled appointment is prevented or disrupted due to technical complications, please email your therapist at their Drew account.

Although not ideal, we can make other arrangements for remote therapy via telephone. Remember many cell phone companies are increasing their services without charging during the crisis. (pcworld.com/article/3532817/which-internet-providers-are-lifting-data-caps-during-the-coronavirus-and-which-arent.html)

You can email or call and set up an on-line intake meeting with a therapist online. If you are not feeling safe, call 911 (in the US), 973-408-4444 (Public Safety) if you are on campus, or go to your hospital emergency room.

We will still have crisis times available every day.  Email us to clarify a time since we can be flexible. If it is a life or death emergency, or you are not feeling safe, call one of the emergency numbers above or go to your local emergency room.

Our email for an appointment is counseling@drew.edu and our phone is 973-408-3398. If you call, you will be asked to leave a voicemail with your name and phone number.

In a time of quarantine and social-distancing, your Counseling Center has adjusted services to continue to provide you the best supportive care.  We are here to help you navigate every stage along the way.  The option of teletherapy requires creativity.  Below are some tips and suggestions in getting the most out of your remote counseling sessions.

Carve Out a Safe Space

• Talk to your roommate about wanting to schedule some private/alone time in your room. You don’t need to explain or share more than that.
• Use earbuds or noise-canceling headphones to increase confidentiality.  If needed, ask your roommate to wear headphones.  
• If you have a car, that can be another option for a private and confidential space. 
• During agreeable weather, go for a walk during your counseling session on one of Drew’s paths or close by and talk with your counselor on the phone.  You will be providing yourself with 2 forms of positive self-care at the same time!

Be Flexible with your platforms for teletherapy

• Depending on the weather, schedules, etc. phone calls, for example, may be another option to use from time to time.
• Remote counseling can offer creative options, such as sharing videos, TedTalks, worksheets, books to read, and creative therapies towards your treatment goals. 
• Expect a transition period and some awkwardness at first as you get used to a new way of interacting with your counselor.  Be patient with yourself and your counselor.

Communicate with you Counselor

• Keep an open line of communication. Share any cultural needs you have or uncomfortable feelings using remote counseling.
• Share your emotions.  Nonverbal cues are more difficult to observe.  Online counseling is good practice to name your emotions.
• Share questions on how to use remote counseling and what is helpful or unhelpful.  Your counselor values your feedback on how you feel teletherapy is helping, or not.  

Crisis help information.

Counseling and Psychological Services is a division of Campus Life and Student Affairs. The division exists to help students function more effectively in the Drew University Community. Our mission is to help students define their personal and academic goals. Information and counseling are provided to help students to deal with their individual concerns by helping them to understand themselves better and explore alternatives, reach decisions, or feel better about coping with problems.

We offer a broad range of group programs and short-term individual counseling for undergraduate and graduate students. Our purpose is to assist students in their personal, social, and academic development, and the achievement of life goals. Services are provided free to all interested Drew students. Sometimes referrals are made to other, more appropriate, resources either within the university community or outside the university.

Alumni/ae may consult a counselor for a brief consultation and/or referral. We will also meet with staff and faculty to help them find referrals for outside clinicians. Referrals can be made for longer-term counseling. We are located on the South end of Drew University’s campus in Holloway Annex 21 in the same building as the Health Center just up the hill from the University Commons or the Forum.