Mental Health Timeline
The University of Houston has long recognized the importance of providing robust support services to our students, especially in the realm of mental health. While these efforts did not begin in 2022, recent years have seen a significant expansion and enhancement of these services to better meet the evolving needs of our student body, ensuring they have the support needed to thrive academically and personally. Our work is not done. We are dedicated to creating a culture of care, where every student feels supported and valued.
2022
Embedded Counselors:
Model created to embed counselors in specific divisions and colleges. First clinician added.
Model created to embed counselors in specific divisions and colleges. First clinician added.
Added staff to Cougar Cupboard and Health Education programs.
JED Campus Suicide Prevention:
Launched a 4-year initiative with self-assessment, surveys, and strategic plan.
Launched a 4-year initiative with self-assessment, surveys, and strategic plan.
Behavioral Intervention Team:
Evolved into a new Care Team model, hired two case managers.
Evolved into a new Care Team model, hired two case managers.
Mental Health Support:
Added clinicians in Cougars in Recovery, UH Wellness and Dean of Students Office.
Added clinicians in Cougars in Recovery, UH Wellness and Dean of Students Office.
$1M Investment in Personnel:
10 new health and wellness positions created to support mental health, health education and student support services, including three licensed clinicians.
10 new health and wellness positions created to support mental health, health education and student support services, including three licensed clinicians.
Spring 2023
CAPS Fees:
Permanently removed.
Permanently removed.
Taskforces:
President Khator established taskforces for Mental Health and Agnes Arnold Hall (March); recommendations made.
President Khator established taskforces for Mental Health and Agnes Arnold Hall (March); recommendations made.
CAPS External Review:
Conducted and recommendations made.
Conducted and recommendations made.
Mental Health Investment:
$8.2M additional funds allocated for FY24.
$8.2M additional funds allocated for FY24.
CAPS Staff Compensation:
Increased to competitive levels.
Increased to competitive levels.
Summer 2023
Agnes Arnold Hall:
Phase One renovation completed, including balcony screening, stairwell, and sky bridge enhancements.
Phase One renovation completed, including balcony screening, stairwell, and sky bridge enhancements.
Mental Health Training:
Redeveloped "You Can Help a Coog" and expanded reach of QPR and multiple other trainings.
Redeveloped "You Can Help a Coog" and expanded reach of QPR and multiple other trainings.
Mindfulness Spaces:
Designated and designed additional spaces for mindfulness and meditation. Spaces for reflection, mindfulness and meditation were added to the UH Facilities Planning and Construction Design Guidelines for all future UH construction projects.
Designated and designed additional spaces for mindfulness and meditation. Spaces for reflection, mindfulness and meditation were added to the UH Facilities Planning and Construction Design Guidelines for all future UH construction projects.
Fall 2023
Embedded Counselors:
Second mental health clinician added to division/college under new model.
Second mental health clinician added to division/college under new model.
Syllabus Requirement:
Mental health support information updated and confirmed to be included in all syllabi.
Mental health support information updated and confirmed to be included in all syllabi.
Awareness Campaign:
Started CoogsCARE resources campaign.
Started CoogsCARE resources campaign.
“Let’s Talk” Service:
Expanded and made available in the Student Center.
Expanded and made available in the Student Center.
Peer Support Programs:
Enhanced, including CoogsCARE Fall Fest.
Enhanced, including CoogsCARE Fall Fest.
Spring 2024
Cougar Cupboard:
Expanded and opened in new location.
Expanded and opened in new location.
CAPS Expansion:
Targeting 35 clinicians, adding embedded counselors, expanding training (Completion by Fall 2025).
Targeting 35 clinicians, adding embedded counselors, expanding training (Completion by Fall 2025).
Partnerships:
Developed with off-campus mental health resources, including the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, and Charlie Health.
Developed with off-campus mental health resources, including the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, and Charlie Health.
Summer 2024
Included the “Be Well, Do Well” health and wellness resources session.
Standing Committees:
Senior-level leadership committees appointed to regularly assess progress on JED, mental health and wellbeing.
Senior-level leadership committees appointed to regularly assess progress on JED, mental health and wellbeing.
Fall 2024
CoogsCARE Toolkit:
Developed for faculty and staff to support and refer students in need of mental health or other wellbeing support services.
Developed for faculty and staff to support and refer students in need of mental health or other wellbeing support services.
First-Year Experience Courses:
Provided to support new students’ transition, academic success, and sense of belonging and engagement.
Provided to support new students’ transition, academic success, and sense of belonging and engagement.
Embedded Counselors:
Three more embedded counselors added to colleges.
Three more embedded counselors added to colleges.
Ongoing and Future Work
Investment:
Over $55M in additional support over the next two fiscal years for various projects and expansions.
Over $55M in additional support over the next two fiscal years for various projects and expansions.
Data Collection:
Continuous collection related to mental health and wellbeing to inform our efforts to meet the evolving needs of students, faculty and staff.
Continuous collection related to mental health and wellbeing to inform our efforts to meet the evolving needs of students, faculty and staff.
Review Systems:
Assess student, faculty and staff support systems to inform needed actions.
Assess student, faculty and staff support systems to inform needed actions.
Suicide Prevention Protocols:
Refined to align with national standards.
Refined to align with national standards.
New CAPS Facilities:
Consolidated into a single location with updated facilities. To be explored as part of the proposed Student Centers expansion (2027).
Consolidated into a single location with updated facilities. To be explored as part of the proposed Student Centers expansion (2027).
Phase 3 Agnes Arnold Hall Renovation:
Completion to address core renovations and enhancements (2027).
Completion to address core renovations and enhancements (2027).