Story by Amber Froese COMM 2311.001/News Writing,
South Plains College provides students with free mental support and counseling services at the Levelland and Reese campuses. College counseling is one hundred percent accessible and counselors are there to help students struggling with college stress, depression, anxiety, and grief.
Miranda English has served as a counselor and outreach coordinator for South Plains College for ten years.
“We have a PTA program coming up about stress, so we try to get in front of the students as much as possible to say ‘Hey we’re here and we care and we know that college is stressful and life is stressful and if you need to talk, we’re available.” Said Miranda English.
Student Health and Wellness faculty brings awareness on social media and in the classrooms to erase the stigma around counseling. Miranda English says it may be hard for students to talk about their feelings, especially when they come from a background where talking about emotions isn’t accepted.
Faculty and staff at South Plains College campuses are trained to notice behavioral changes in students, such as frequently missing class or failing to turn in assignments. The care team is also available for students, where they can reach out to staff anonymously about their concerns for a friend.
“We work closely with faculty and staff and we have on one occasion, through what we call our care team report,” English said.
The Wellness Center is not just for counseling but also for students who are struggling in between paychecks. A pantry is located within the Health and Wellness building on the Levelland campus. The pantry contains canned and boxed food, condiments, and toiletries that are free for students to take if needed. This provides students with a sense of security and peace without having to worry about their next meal.
“If a student on campus is food insecure and needs a bag, they can fill out an application online about their needs and pick it up same day.” Miranda English says. “Right now, we’re a little bare, we’re waiting on donations.”
South Plains College also offers accommodations for students who are struggling academically. The staff at South Plains makes sure to ensure that every student is getting the right amount of education they need- including how students retain and keep information within classes. Accommodations are available on all campuses and students can go to Kassidy Greaves at the Plainview and Levelland campus or Dawn Valles in the Lubbock Downtown Center.
“So our first step in getting student accommodations is getting them familiar with the aim portal and getting the application in place. We’ll need documentation, identifying what disability it is they need accommodations for.” Miranda English said.
At the Health and Wellness Center, students can walk in and schedule an appointment with a counselor or use it as a place to simply unwind.
Though not all students utilize the mental support center, counselors are busy making sure that students are seen and heard during the times they visit. Faculty do their best to spread awareness about their services not just on campus but on social media and the South Plains College website. An upcoming event that spreads awareness is South Plains College’s Ask An Addict on April 15, which informs students of drug abuse and awareness.
At South Plains College, mental health comes first and education comes second. The faculty and staff ensure that everything is easy and accessible for students to prioritize their mental health. If you or anyone you know is having an emergency, please contact 911 or the following:
Lubbock 24 Hr Suicide Hotline 806-765-8393
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255 or #988
National Suicide Prevention Text Line 741741
Youth American Hotline/Teen to Teen Peer Counseling 877-968-8454
StarCare (Lubbock Area) 24 Hr Crisis Line 806-740-1414
Voice of Hope for Sexual Assault Help 806-763-7273
The Treavor Crisis Lifeline for LGBTQIA+ 866-488-7386
Health and Wellness Website:https://www.southplainscollege.edu/health/studenthealth.php
Food Pantry: https://www.southplainscollege.edu/health/food-pantry-request.php
Disability Services: https://www.southplainscollege.edu/health/disabilityservices.php
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