If you’ve been following news about College of the Redwoods, then you may know that your community college has created a new Education Master Plan that is as far-reaching and innovative as it is daring and challenging. One of the important initiatives codified in our Plan is to “Establish Stronger Wraparound Experiences for Students’ Total Connection to the Institution.” This initiative relates to all of the processes and services that happen outside of the classroom.

We want to strengthen CR’s ability to efficiently and effectively guide students through every aspect of their educational experience so that they are able to achieve their educational goals without having to contend with unnecessary challenges or obstacles. These supports will range from counseling and advising to financial aid and enrollment, and even to student health and wellness.

We know that even during non-pandemic times, college students experience stressors while trying to balance the demands of their personal and academic lives. These stressors intensified over the last few years due to the pandemic, and we’ve seen more of our students experiencing deteriorating physical and mental health while they face more frequent struggles with isolation, depression, and anxiety.

This is not unique to our students. Kat McAlpine, writing for Boston University’s The Brink, discusses a February 2021 Boston University survey of approximately 33,000 college students across the country. The survey reveals that the prevalence of depression and anxiety in young people continues to increase, a sign of the mounting stress factors due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, political unrest, systemic racism, and inequality.

The author of the study, Sarah Ketchen Lipson, says that two-thirds of college students in the study reported struggling with loneliness and feelings of isolation — an all-time high that reflects the toll of the pandemic and the social isolation necessary to control it. Similarly, Edward Lempinen wrote in Berkeley News in August 2020 that the rate of anxiety and depression was more pronounced among low-income students, students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and those who are caring for loved ones.

Similarly, we know that mental health challenges can serve as significant barriers to student success, both in the short and long term. In an attempt to address the mounting student mental health crisis and help remove those barriers, we contracted with Kiira Health and Timely MD — two online mental health providers — to augment our mental health services. These virtual services align very well with our existing counseling and advising services and reflect best practices to promote retention and equity.

As our community emerges from the pandemic, we are going to add to these critical services by taking steps to support the holistic well-being in all students. The College of the Redwoods Basic Skills and Wellness Center (BSWC) initiative will bring together CR’s Counseling Center, Food Pantry, and Health Center (with services provided by Humboldt IPA), under one entity co-led by Dr. Crystal Morse, Associate Vice President of Student Success and Ms. Alia Dunphy, Dean of the Students.

As the name suggests, the BSWC will focus on the basic needs of students — including referrals for food and housing assistance, mental health, and clinical health services to currently enrolled students at no cost. Equally as important, the new BSWC will empower students to make informed decisions about their health, ultimately enhancing their well-being and quality of life. The BSWC will also provide a variety of educational materials, host educational workshops, plan awareness activities and provide students with referrals to off-campus partners and agencies as necessary.

We have all experienced the stressors of the pandemic. Anxiety, depression and isolation are among the most difficult of these stressors. CR’s approach to these issues is proactive. We want our students to know they are not alone, there is help available, and they have the support they need to achieve their educational goals.

Dr. Keith Flamer is the president of the College of the Redwoods.