To connect students with the right resources at the right time, Cal State Fullerton’s Counseling and Psychological Services launched a new mental health support tool called Compass.
By most metrics, student mental health across the nation is declining. A 2022 survey by Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse reported that 2,000 undergraduate students were more than twice as likely to rate their overall mental health as poor. Additionally, more than 60% of college students nationwide met the criteria for at least one mental health problem, according to the 2020-21 Healthy Minds Study.
By answering a few questions on the Compass website, students can quickly access on-campus and local community resources in the areas of physical safety, basic needs, mental health, physical health, incident reporting, conflict resolution, and guidance or advocacy.
The site is completely anonymous, with no personal information collected or stored. Students are not required to sign in via the website or the CSUF portal to access the resources.
“Our students are encountering more hurdles in life than ever before. In those moments of challenge, finding the right support is essential,” said Vincent Vigil, senior associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “Accessible at any time, Compass matches students with relevant services and resources in just a few clicks.”
Another benefit of the website is that faculty, staff and other campus community members can use Compass: The goal of the website is to provide everyone with a quick tool to help Titans in need find the right resources.
“We urge each Titan to spend a few moments exploring the Compass tool and bookmark the site in your browser, so you know where to find help whenever you or a friend needs support,” said Vigil.
Compass complements Cal State Fullerton’s YOU@Fullerton, a virtual wellness platform launched in 2020 to help students enhance their personal health, physical wellness and mental health through articles, videos and CSUF resources. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the top accessed resources were: “Getting the Most Out of Online Classes,” “Tips To Be Productive When Studying at Home During COVID-19,” and “Science-Based Strategies to Cope with Coronavirus Anxiety.”