SMCM Wellness Center staff, Emily Lamoreau '11 (staff therapist) and Laurie Scherer (director), have been chosen to present at the 2020 annual ACCA conference (American College Counselors Association) in Washington, D.C. in late February.
The presentation, titled “Responding to Crises on a Small College Campus,” seeks to identify ways college counseling centers can "creatively meet the mental health needs of students despite its challenges and evaluate existing plans or develop new crises plans that both meet the mental health needs of students and is effectively communicated to all staff members. The presentation will utilize case studies to explore the current mental health crisis procedures in place on a small college campus in rural Maryland. Additionally, this presentation will highlight the intersection of social justice and mental health care as explanation for the reported rise in severity presentation and demand of services at college counseling centers."
According to Scherer, “We are proud of the work we do at the Wellness Center and excited to have the opportunity to share our work with other college counselors at the conference. The Wellness Center is able to support students effectively because of the support we receive from the Division of Student Affairs and the entire SMCM campus community.”
