Catholic colleges often have a holistic approach to mental health, combining emotional, psychological, and spiritual counseling and care to ensure overall wellbeing of students. This can take a few different forms.
Most, if not all Catholic colleges will have some sort of counseling department. Typically, these counseling departments are staffed by trained, professional psychologists and therapists. College counseling departments are free for the students of the college, so students can receive free therapy, counseling, and even be diagnosed by these departments without extra cost. In some cases, they may be referred to specialists or other providers as needed. Students can receive therapy for any issues, from stress to mental illness. Some Catholic colleges can even offer 24/7 hotlines for those who need immediate help, should the occasion arise.
Additionally, Catholic colleges offer spiritual services, like campus ministries, pastors, and spiritual mentors. Students can receive spiritual counseling and advice for any issues they may be having, including stress management, emotional distress, and even mental illness. Spiritual care often explores ways that students can find strength, comfort, and healing through their beliefs and faith.
Some Catholic colleges will also offer workshops or seminars that focus on mental health and wellbeing. The goal of these seminars is to educate students on signs to look for, what to do and where to go when it may be needed, and how to properly take care of themselves to combat stress or mental illness. This often includes lifestyle education, which explores what a healthy lifestyle looks like in terms of diet, exercise, habits, self-care, self-dialogue, and more.
Catholic colleges take a holistic approach to mental health, offering care emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually to promote the overall wellbeing of students in all areas. This typically means a staffed counseling center for students, spiritual services, and even some educational seminars or workshops to teach them how best to care for themselves and what to do when they encounter struggles. Not every Catholic college will offer the same services, so it is important to talk to an admissions officer or search through the website of the college(s) you are interested in.