Harvard Launches Health Initiative

Harvard wants you to know that it cares.

In the wake of student complaints about the University's mental health resources, Harvard kicked off a multifaceted mental health initiative this week, featuring workshops and discussion groups for students, staff and Faculty members.

Featured are 10 days of workshops--one will be held at each Harvard House--that will attempt to give practical information to students about stress, sleep, relationships and nutrition.

After a University Health Service (UHS) survey last year found that Harvard students were dissatisfied with mental health resources available to them, the provost's office was motivated to prepare a comprehensive report on mental health resources at Harvard.

"Part of the recommendation of that report was that we do more outreach, and help students recognize what's going on and how they can get help," said Marsha H. Semuels, the assistant provost in charge of the mental health outreach program. "We're discussing the necessity of everyday help."

Semuels said the program is unusual because it brings together the many different groups that deal with mental health issues on campus. The survey found that many students did not know where to go with their mental health concerns.

Semuels called the program "the most concerted efforts of the University where everyone, faculty, students and staff are working together on this particular theme."

"[This is the] first time that all people who interacted with students are all in the same room--dining hall staff, admissions, everyone," she said. "The Business School invited custodians to their workshop. If everything goes as planned, it will be wonderful."

Workshops began last night and will be held tonight and tomorrow in the Houses. Topics covered range from relationship issues to health and work concerns. Mental health professionals will be brought in for some of the workshops.

Dr. Richard D. Kadison, chief executive of UHS Mental Health Services, said this week's programs are just a first step in improving mental health resources on campus.

"This is by no means a one shot deal. We have been working for two years to improve access and outreach, de-stigmatize mental health services, and create constructive dialogue with the University community," he wrote in an e-mail message.

Topics for the workshops were chosen by students in each of the undergraduate Houses, according to Sarah E. Henrickson '01, co-chair of the Undergraduate Health Services (UHS) Student Health Advisory Committee. "Seeing the topics that each of the House contacts chose shows the range of interests and concerns that Harvard students have and the problems have in their life," said Henrickson, who coordinated student involvement in the workshops. (Henrickson is also a Crimson executive.)

Thomas A. Dingman '67, Associate Dean of the College, said he hopes that the discussion groups will lead to more effective resources as UHS and Bureau of Study Counsel liaisons learn about student concerns.

"My hope is that...students will feel comfortable discussing issues that they confront," said Dingman, who served on the University Student Health Coordinating Board involved in organizing this outreach. "These workshops offer a wonderful chance for us to listen."

Visit the outreach web page for more information about workshops and "Caring" events:

http://www.provost.harvard.edu/shcb/caring/

--Staff writer Sarah A. Dolgonos can be reached at dolgonos@fas.harvard.edu.