CAPS encourages students to participate in free well-being workshops

In recent years, KU students have been asking for more on-campus mental health resources. KU’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), is focusing on this input to improve the service and resources students receive. 

According to CAPS, the challenges students face can impact them emotionally, physically and academically.

“Here in CAPS specifically, we have more students reaching out,” said Dr. Chris Corbett, CAPS director. “We know that these are some of the most common reasons that students have difficulty with their academics, with their social life, with their general well-being.”

Since COVID-19, CAPS has expanded its resources to better meet student needs. According to Corbett, CAPS has worked directly with students to understand what the program can do to help benefit them.

“We’ve also worked really hard with students and sought feedback from them about what’s working, what’s not working,” Corbett said. “We heard about time being an issue, we heard about location, and we also heard about cost.”

CAPS now offers a variety of workshops that can help students on a variety of mental health hurdles.

“Each workshop focuses on a different topic, depending on certain experiences that students might be going through,” said Carlos Rivera, clinical social worker for CAPS. 

While student input has shaped these offerings, Rivera still thinks participation for these events could help benefit the student body. 

“There could be a lot more participation,” Rivera said. “One of the main reasons these kinds of workshops would be beneficial is, first of all, they’re fairly easily accessible.”

During the spring semester, CAPS is offering four workshops. Each workshop is free for students to attend.

For more information, students can visit the CAPS website, call 785-864-2277, visit the Mantra Care Hub through the CAPS website, or stop by the CAPS office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

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