When Emily Marsico (M2, right) first came to NEOMED, she got involved — not only in student organizations, but also in a campus-wide group called the Mental Health Committee.
The group includes student representatives alongside faculty and staff to help ensure that student concerns are heard and addressed.
For second-year medicine students like Marsico, studying for Step 1 is top of mind right now, she said at the committee’s quarterly meeting Feb. 10. She and her classmates are “keepin’ on, and trying our hardest,” says Marsico. Having Step 1 changed to pass/fail helps reduce the pressure a bit, but it’s still a high-stakes test, she says.
Looking Out for Each Other
Marsico has taken the opportunity to complete QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention – training offered at NEOMED to help students, faculty and staff alike look out for each other.
To date, nearly 150 faculty and staff have been trained in the three-step QPR technique so they are aware of the signs and steps to take when encountering someone in their personal or professional life who may have thoughts of suicide.
Watch for more information on QPR training to come from Human Resources.
Students are welcome to sit in on Mental Health Committee meetings. To arrange that, contact Sara Dugan, Ph.D., sdugan@neomed.edu, who chairs the committee.
Student Resources
The Center for Student Wellness and Counseling Services provides free and confidential direct individual counseling services for a variety of concerns including, stress, burnout, time management, relationship problems, anxiety, depression and other matters related to a student’s overall mental well-being. The Center also provides resource information on wellness topics and is responsible for student outreach programming designed to reduce stress and improve overall well-being.
The Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located in Suite A-200, next to the library. Students seeking non-urgent crisis counseling may call 330.325.6757 or email counseling@neomed.edu for an appointment.
Students seeking immediate crisis counseling may walk in anytime during normal business hours or call 330.325.6757 and follow the prompts to speak to a counselor.
NATIONAL CRISIS ASSISTANCE 24/7
Crisis Text Line: 741-741
National Suicide Hotline: 800.273.8255
Sexual Abuse National Network: 800.656.4673