Mental health care at Brown University emphasizes student needs through a progressive approach
Brown University's Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Embraces a Diverse and Inclusive Approach
In a commendable move towards promoting diversity and inclusion, Brown University's Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has been making significant strides in recent years.
The hiring of a diverse group of clinicians reflects a goal established in the center's Departmental Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan. CAPS Director, Will Meek, has sought to increase the compositional diversity of counseling staff by hiring therapists who represent a wider range of cultural backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. This commitment to building a more diverse team has encouraged a comfort level among students seeking support from CAPS, including during the anti-racist movement.
CAPS has also been instrumental in hiring a diverse group of clinicians in the past few years, with more clinicians of color and those speaking different languages. This diversity has made students more likely to seek - and be satisfied with - care at CAPS.
The new approach at CAPS has enabled counselors to continue to support students living all over the world during the COVID-19 crisis. The flexible care model prioritizes student needs through three key features: a 30-minute session for immediate concerns, same-day care for common concerns and urgent needs, and scheduling options for returning students.
Moreover, CAPS has changed the intake process and other policies, including lifting a previous annual cap on therapy sessions, to improve its ability to meet the diverse needs of students seeking services.
The flexible care model at CAPS has not gone unnoticed. Over the past year, more than two dozen colleges and universities have consulted with CAPS on how to transition to a similar flexible care model. CAPS is also working to find the best ways to serve students remotely as they are spread across the globe.
In addition to its flexible care model, CAPS has implemented a number of initiatives to promote inclusivity and diversity. For instance, The B.E.A.R Project, Brown's suicide prevention program, was designed after CAPS solicited feedback on suicide prevention from across the Brown community. CAPS' efforts in promoting inclusivity and diversity were recognised with a 2020 DIAP Community Award.
To manage crisis situations, CAPS has hired a dedicated urgent care clinician. However, the search results do not provide the name of the new Urgent Care-Clinician hired by CAPS in fall 2017 as part of the mental health care realignment.
Looking ahead, CAPS will continue to address issues around accessibility and diversity, as well as increased needs within the student community for long-term care for chronic mental health conditions. The centre is scheduled to move into the new health and wellness center and residence hall in 2021, bringing it into the same space as other services and programs instrumental to students' physical and emotional well-being.
In conclusion, Brown University's CAPS is moving in a community-oriented direction, providing students with care options such as varied session lengths and same-day appointments, and striving to promote inclusivity and diversity in its services.
