EOT 322 Blakely Hildebrand: SELC's Smithfield Biogas Lawsuit; Dr. Monica Osburn: COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health 3/14/21

Eye on the Triangle

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Eoin Trainor 0:00
The views and opinions expressed in Eye on the Triangle do not represent WKNC or the student media.

Eoin Trainor 0:28
Good evening Raleigh and welcome to this week's Eye on the Triangle. An NC State student run students scripted and student produced a new show on WKNC 88.1 FM HD one Raleigh, I am Eoin Trainor. On tonight's episode our contributor Elizabeth Esser sits down with executive director of NC State University's Counseling Center, Dr. Monica Osburn They'll be discussing the COVID-19 pandemics impact on the mental health of college students. Later we'll have my interview with Blakeley Hildebrand, a staff attorney with the southern Environmental Law Center who is challenging the construction of an eastern North Carolina natural gas facility. And to top things off, we'll end with two stories from Nadia Ramlagan at the North Carolina News Service. Stay tuned Eye on the Triangle.

Elizabeth Esser 1:14
Today I am joined with Dr. Monica Osburn, Executive Director of the Counseling Center here at NC State to talk about the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of college students as we come up on a year since lockdown. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us today Dr. Osburn.

Monica Osburn 1:32
Very glad to be here. Thank you for having me.

Elizabeth Esser 1:34
Everyone has been impacted by COVID in different ways. Dr. Osbourn, in what ways has the pandemic uniquely impacted the mental health of college students?

Monica Osburn 1:44
That's a great question. It has significantly impacted the mental health of not only college students, but people around the nation, the way that we're really seeing that in our students at NC State is first and foremost isolation, not having as many social outlets and opportunities for connection has been a significant challenge related to mental health.

Elizabeth Esser 2:16
And after the lockdown, did you find that more students were seeking out counseling resources?

Monica Osburn 2:22
It's interesting because it has kind of had almost a wave effect when everybody left campus, we experienced a lull in services. I think students were really focused on getting home, getting moved, getting settled, trying to figure out first order needs of how am I going to manage my academics? Where am I going to live? Do I have internet? And so we didn't start seeing a pickup in service delivery until over the summer, usually we're a little slower in the summer and that wasn't true this past summer, because once students kind of got settled and realize that they could access us still in a telehealth capacity they started doing that. And we absolutely made services available for them. So then we had another increase when folks came back to campus in fall. And then when it went remote again, it dropped again, it was it's kind of like it followed a little bit of a roller coaster for sure.

Elizabeth Esser 3:29
And how have students responded to counseling sessions virtually?

Monica Osburn 3:34
Really well, we have a significant number of students that really like it, and some students even it's preferred, I mean, it's not the same as being in person, right. And we were all trying to do the best we can with what we have. But students have been, for the most part, really grateful that the services exist, and that we've done so much to reduce the barriers of access, it really is as simple as calling the Counseling Center and you do actually talk to one of our front office workers and we have our paperwork on a link on the website. So it really it you know, it took us a little while, but we really have a system that flows to remove some of the barriers for access for students.

Elizabeth Esser 4:29
And what are some coping strategies that students have been using or that you could recommend for students dealing with mental struggles related to COVID?

Monica Osburn 4:38
This is an area that our department prevention services at NC State does a phenomenal job because not everybody needs counseling, and sometimes they just need that connection and support or maybe additional resources. If you go to the website and just type in "prevention services drop in spaces", an entire list of community drop-in spaces appears to where students can meet and talk to folks that are struggling with similar things that they are. So that's one of the places that I think has been a tremendous resource. We also have workshop series in the Counseling Center, our anxiety tool kit, or getting unstuck, that focuses on some symptoms of depression that really help teach students those coping strategies. And some of them are just gentle reminders of things that we already know, right, we need to make sure that we're getting appropriate amounts of sleep that is key to our bodies, and, you know, eating foods that are nourishing and healthy, that help take care of us. Going out for a walk, I mean, just some of those basic things can really improve mental health significantly.

Elizabeth Esser 6:04
How do you sense students are feeling about the pandemic right now? And do they seem like they've eased into it? Are they optimistic as we enter spring?

Monica Osburn 6:13
You know, I'm not sure. And I think, you know, if I had to create the narrative, in my head for what others are feeling, maybe it's similar to myself, some days, I am optimistic, some days, I'm scared to death, some days, I'm ready to take it on and have my groove and have a good plan. And then other days, I just want to pull the blanket up over my head. So I don't think there's just one path, we're all doing the very best that we can, I can tell you that. We've seen significant resilience and creativity in our students, there is just such a desire to succeed and figure out a way forward and that instills a lot of hope. And I don't want to minimize how challenging this time is, you know, we have many students who are managing grief and loss related to COVID. We're in a national environment that is really painful and activating for folks, both with what's happening with COVID, and other things that are happening in the world. So I think it really depends on the day is the best answer I have for you there.

Elizabeth Esser 7:33
And then finally, is there anything that you want the student body or listeners as a whole to know about your resources?

Monica Osburn 7:40
Continue to use them, continue to connect with one another, figure out what you need, try it on, help each other. And that could be going to a workout with well rec, that could be, you know, a nutrition class, it could be doing the drop in space with us connecting with one of the centers on campus, we are still doing some drop in spaces, in collaboration with the Women's Center, African American cultural center, and if you really need someone to talk to then then come to the Counseling Center because having that support whether it's in a group space, or an individual counseling space can make all the difference in the world. You don't have to be alone.

Elizabeth Esser 8:34
Thank you again, Dr. Osburn for speaking with us today on Eye on the Triangle.

Monica Osburn 8:38
Very glad to be here and thank you again for having me, have a wonderful day.

Elizabeth Esser 8:43
For more information on NC State's Counseling Center resources can be found at counseling.dasa.ncsu.edu reporting for Eye on the Triangle. This is Elizabeth Esser.

Eoin Trainor 8:57
This is Eoin Trainor with WKNC ...