When the Struggle Is Real

Stress. Test anxiety. Depression. These have always been parts of the college student experience. But 10 years ago, University leaders dramatically increased the support students were getting to work through these mental health struggles.

The Counselors in Academic Residence Program or CARE, a partnership between the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) and the Office of the Provost at UT Austin, is celebrating 10 years of enhancing mental health support for Longhorns. By embedding licensed CMHC mental health professionals within the colleges and schools, CARE assures that students can easily access support, making counseling a seamless part of the University experience.

As active members of their academic communities, CARE counselors assist students with various concerns ranging from stress management and test anxiety to depression. CARE provides outreach, workshops, individual counseling and referrals that are customized to fit the needs of students. Since its founding, CARE has helped thousands by offering essential assistance and knowledge to combat the stigma surrounding mental health and foster resilience.

Beginnings of CARE

David Laude, a chemistry professor, has seen directly how students' achievements are impacted by non-academic issues, especially mental health concerns. "In my years of teaching large 500-student chemistry classes, I would encourage students to reach out if they ever needed help," Laude says. "Many did, and I witnessed directly that their challenges extended well beyond the classroom, from personal crises to, occasionally, significant mental health issues. However, there was no organized method on campus at the time to help these individuals directly in their communities. Since advisers did not have the specific expertise necessary to address complex mental health issues, I would personally walk them to the Student Services Building," he recalls.

When Laude joined the Provost's Office a few years later, he was given the responsibility of raising four-year graduation rates. It was then he realized non-academic challenges - particularly mental health issues - were significant obstacles to students' achievement. He recognized an opportunity to back a new concept to create accessible environments within each college, where students could more comfortably seek the help they needed.

Laude and Chris Brownson, who was director of the Counseling and Mental Health Center at the time and now associate vice president for health and well-being, collaborated to create the CARE concept. It would place mental health counselors in the academic units to increase access to mental health support. Laude provided pilot funding, and CMHC established CARE with counselors housed in six colleges and schools. The counselors provided one-on-one counseling, collaborated with administrators, staff and faculty on initiatives to support student mental health within the CSU, and promoted mental health awareness.

Launching Care: A Collaborative Effort

Collaboration, preparation and commitment were necessary to make CARE a reality. Laura Dupuis was chosen to oversee its creation.

Dupuis was already a clinician within the CMHC's Voices Against Violence program at the time of her appointment, which provides UT students who have experienced interpersonal violence with group services, therapy and confidential advocacy.

"We started by compiling data on how to create the collaboration and organize the program," says Laura Dupuis, director of CARE and Campus Support. "Focus groups and discussions with campus partners were conducted in order to learn about their unique needs and cultures. Additionally, we spent a great deal of time constructing the clinical model and referral system."

In addition to Dupuis, the first counselors included Toby LeBlanc, Abby Simpson, Mike Andorka, Jeni Wade and Alicia Enciso Litschi. The Undergraduate College, McCombs School of Business, Moody College of Communication, Cockrell School of Engineering and College of Natural Sciences all initially housed CARE offices. Finding office space that was both close to advisors and accessible for students while maintaining privacy was one of the first challenges.

Dupuis was pleasantly surprised at the program's positive reception. "We weren't sure how faculty and staff would respond at first to working with counselors, but they welcomed our work and utilized these services to the fullest extent possible."

Toby LeBlanc, a team lead and one of the program's founding counselors for the McCombs School, says, "A memorable moment was realizing just how deeply academic departments cared about their students. While we knew they valued them, I was surprised by how invested staff members were in students' well-being and success. It was heartwarming to see their thankfulness for having us in their spaces. Advisors, especially, appreciated having counseling professionals nearby and easily accessible for students who were struggling."

CARE had a limited three-year budget during its pilot phase, but this was enough to show deans, staff and students the benefits. "In the beginning, we joked about making CARE so indispensable that when our funding ran out, it would be impossible not to continue it," Laude adds. Eventually, as the program grew in popularity, permanent funding was secured.

Community Impact

CARE Counselors are now incorporated into the fabric of campus life with counselors fully embedded within the colleges. "The CARE team's knowledge of our academic culture makes them invaluable teammates," says Anneke Chy, Assistant Dean of the College of Natural Sciences. She notes that CNS collaborates with CARE to lessen stigma and increase accessibility to resources for mental health.

In addition to positive feedback from faculty, students have been advocates for the program. "I really appreciate having a counselor right in my college. As a graduate student, I don't often go to other parts of campus, so it's so convenient not having to travel far," says one. Another adds, "I love that she has office hours. I've stopped by multiple times, and it's always convenient and helpful!" A third student says, "She's caring and understanding during our sessions. Her office setup feels comfortable and homey, making it easy to have one-on-one conversations." Another student says, "He's compassionate, and his advice has encouraged me to reflect on tough questions, helping me make informed decisions for my well-being."

These testimonies highlight how CARE counselors genuinely care about their students.

CARE has placed a high priority on community involvement in addition to providing counseling, making sure that students are aware of resources from their first days on campus. The idea that help is always available is reinforced by participation in events like Gone to CNS, the McCombs Wellness Fair and frequent features in weekly newsletters, which keep mental health at the forefront.

Looking to the Future

Going forward, CARE is dedicated to continuing its mission of supporting student mental health. It has broadened its scope, currently employing nearly 20 full-time counselors in almost every college and school as well as in non-academic units such as University Housing and Dining.

"We will continue to strengthen our relationships across the University while leveraging data to meet the evolving needs of new generations of students," says Dupuis. A priority of CARE is listening to students and developing programs that accurately represent their needs and experiences.

Join Us in Prioritizing Mental Health

As UT celebrates a decade of CARE, it encourages staff, professors and students to learn more about CARE and its invaluable resources. Students should know that their mental health is important and that CARE is here to support them. Whether they're struggling with stress, need advice or just want to know more about maintaining mental health, they contact CARE.

The journey of CARE is confirmation of the importance of mental health support in educational settings. Find out more about CARE and the Counseling and Mental Health Center.

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