Counseling and Psychological Services continues to support campus

MSU recently hit a record enrollment of more than 17,000 students in the Fall 2024 semester, according to the University Registrar. With so many students on campus, questions are arising about student resources. Specifically, can Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) keep up with the demand for resources and adequately meet the needs of such a large population? 

According to Betsy Asserson, director of CPS, the organization aims to ensure students experiencing distress have immediate access to crisis services. According to its website, CPS offers the campus community various services ranging from individual counseling sessions, self-help resources, crisis intervention and walk-in hours. It also offers group counseling sessions and access to a care manager who can assist students with finding external mental health providers, according to Asserson.

However, with only 33 staff members currently listed on the CPS website — a ratio of about 520 students to one staff member — the question remains of whether CPS is currently able to keep up with the ever-growing student population. Asserson explained that at the end of September 2024, “CPS had seen a 25 percent increase in students accessing clinical services as compared to last year. We continually assess our clinical and staffing models and adjust as we see fluctuations in student need.”

“CPS is excited to be in our expanded facility in the new Student Wellness Center [SWC] which has allowed us to increase client privacy and expand our group programs,” Asserson explained when asked about new improvements to the department. CPS is now located on the third floor of the SWC. "This year, we are excited to be able to offer more group counseling sessions given our new space in the [SWC]. Our groups started earlier than usual and we are excited to expand those offerings [in the future],” she said. 

“Students get immediate access to crisis services if they’re experiencing immediate distress, and we adjust our service model to have students access an intake appointment within a week of contacting our office,” Asserson said.

A current MSU student — who requested to remain anonymous due to health-related privacy concerns — explained to the Exponent that they have been using CPS services for two academic years. “I went into the office and set up my appointment with the front desk people which was quick and easy,” the student reported when asked about the accessibility of CPS this semester. “The general way things are run this year [is] similar to last year, no noticeable differences,” they explained.

To get more information about group and individual counseling, referrals and all other information, head to CPS’s website at https://www.montana.edu/counseling/. 

To drop in for a quick talk and access to resources you may need, check out CPS’s “Let’s Talk” schedule at https://www.montana.edu/counseling/letstalk.html.

If you are in an immediate crisis, call 911. If you require crisis resources, please contact the Bozeman Help Center at 406-586-3333, the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or investigate additional resources here:https://www.montana.edu/suicide-prevention/crisis.html.You are not alone and there are resources available for you should you require them.