Contact: Laura Osberger
(804) 387-5191
lauraosberger@schev.edu

June 12, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RICHMOND -- A mental health workforce pilot program at six Virginia universities improved the ability to meet student demand for counseling and reduced staff burnout at counseling centers according to a report released by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

The report reviewed the preliminary impact of Higher Education Mental Health Workforce Pilot grants to six universities: Christopher Newport, George Mason, James Madison, Longwood, Radford and Virginia Tech. It found that within a four-month period, five grant-funded pre-licensees served 220 individual student-patients, reduced appointment wait times and improved staff morale.

The General Assembly appropriated $1 million for the two-year pilot in July 2022, with the goal of expanding mental health services to students and increasing the mental health workforce pipeline.

SCHEV, in consultation with the Virginia Health Care Foundation, awarded the funds to support salaries and benefits for graduates pursuing licensure to provide therapy at student counseling centers. In exchange, each hosting institution agreed to hire, train and supervise the clinical social worker or professional counselor candidates until licensed.

Another recent SCHEV report, What Matters Most, found mental health was one of the top issues facing college students in Virginia.

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