August 2024
The above graph shows the comparison of CARE Team cases for the past three academic years for the months of August and September, in comparison to the current academic year: Academic Year 22 (BLUE), Academic Year 23 (ORANGE), Academic Year 24 (GREY), and Academic Year 25 (YELLOW). Seventy-six students were referred to the CARE Team during the month of August for Academic Year 25. This data accurately reflects the number of referrals we have seen over the last three academic years, as the average number of referrals in August is 75.
However, one major change that was identified was the severity of student concerns. Historically, August is a month of transition, with students typically experiencing homesickness and trying to make friends. This past month, CARE Team case managers worked with students whose top concerns were direct statements indicating distress, basic needs not being met, and expressions of hopelessness, fear, or worthlessness. These concerns may not sound severe, but the follow-up care that took place shows their severity. In August, nine student transports took place, including students being transported for mental health or medical reasons. These levels of concern are historically what the CARE Team sees around weeks 6-8 of the semester but were occurring in the 2nd and 3rd weeks of students being on campus.
In September of 2023, the CARE Team saw a drastic increase in referrals as more students responded to wellness surveys and check-ins from staff and faculty, requesting that the CARE Team connect with them to offer support. Knowing this information, we can predict that we will likely see a large increase in the number of referrals made to our office, and the severity of student concerns will continue to be present throughout the month of September.