Dear COEHD Community,

I need to provide you a brief update on recent COEHD leadership discussions concerning mental health. Recent losses of our UTSA students remind us that people close to us may be suffering from distress and perhaps we are unable to see or notice it or know what steps or options are available. The tragic loss has sparked many questions causing some to wonder if current methods and interventions are simply not enough. All the while, our university continues to demonstrate care for the wellbeing of our community, providing support and resources to our students, faculty, and staff in different but meaningful ways. Moving forward, I am committed to supporting the university’s efforts through a complementary strategy that prioritizes mental health and wellbeing of our students, staff, and faculty. In a discussion this week with COEHD chairs and associate deans, I communicated the need for our departments to work in unison to seek a more systematic approach to mitigating the mental health issues and concerns that affect our community. The plan largely involves integrating and optimizing resources the university already provides in a more lock-step manner but also considering other measures to more fully understand, manage, and respond to mental health stressors that our community members are experiencing. I recognize too we have depth of expertise in our counseling department as well as others that I know will be incredibly valuable as we build a plan to address the problem more effectively. College leaders will be meeting with institutional representatives over the next few weeks to begin the conversation on wellbeing and communicating our interests as a college in creating a more responsive culture.  

Ideas discussed to this point include:

• More frank and direct acknowledgement of stressors (e.g., finances, personal relationships, family obligations, physical health) and explanation of related resources/assistance in class, Canvas course shells, and in the syllabus 
• Centrally surveying stressors that impact COEHD students at a class level
• Identifying training and workshops for faculty and staff on coping, managing, awareness, and reporting 

I welcome your thoughts, ideas, and engagement in this very important matter. Please be reminded again of the resources available to our community at the link below and see a few talking points that may be helpful. I look forward to enlisting all of you in shining a very bright light on mental health in COEHD. More to come.

Mario Torres

https://www.utsa.edu/mental-health-resources/

• Provide Resources: “We have resources available if you need support. Whether it’s counseling services, support groups, or other forms of assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Wellbeing Services, Wellness 360, Student Assistance, or Timelycare or ask for more information.” 

• Offer Flexibility and Support: “If you need any accommodations or adjustments during this time, please let us know. We’re here to support you in any way we can.” 

• Encourage Self-Care: “Remember to take care of yourself. It’s important to find moments of rest and self-care amidst everything that’s happening. Sometimes it is helpful to be with friends or loved ones during times like this” 

-- 

Mario Torres, Ph.D. 

Dean, College of Education and Human Development

President's Distinguished Professorship

The University of Texas at San Antonio

One UTSA Circle, Main Building 3.304

San Antonio, TX 78249

Office: 210.458.5200

Fax:     210.458.4487

Mario.Torres2@utsa.edu