Counseling Center Website Can Offer Resources for Students

Madison, Wis.—March 4, 2008 — Campus counseling websites can do more than list a counseling center’s hours and phone number: they can reach the students who aren’t comfortable making an appointment at all, says Brian Van Brunt, Western Kentucky University’s director of counseling. During his March 4 online seminar he detailed simple, inexpensive ways to do this.

One way is to include links to free non-campus mental health resources, Van Brunt said. Some of the resources he’s found helpful for his own campus’ website include:

Alcoholics Anonymous and other drug-abuse recovery organizations

These sites link visitors to local resources in addition to offering information about recovery.

ULifeline: This site offers mental health information tailored specifically for college students.

Erowid: This site provides objective information about illegal and other drugs (“I’ve had a number of students really appreciate that site for the questions that make us lose sleep, like, ‘My friend’s taken mushrooms and I don’t know if I should call the emergency room,’” Van Brunt said.)

Hippocrates: This site allows users to conduct searches for prescription drug information, such as side effects.

During the seminar, Van Brunt also discussed the pros and cons of “Ask a Counselor” pages and other online resources.

If you missed the live event, you can order the program in CD or transcript format, both of which include the presenters' handouts.

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For more information please contact David Burns, Publisher, Magna Publications, Inc., at 608-227-8109, or dburns@magnapubs.com.