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Harrisburg Area Community College in Pennsylvania has eliminated its on-campus mental health counseling services for students, Spotlight PA reported.
The largest community college system in the state is instead referring students to off-campus providers. A memo on the change was sent to counselors and administrators on Sept. 25, but the plan has yet to be announced to the public or students.
Pennsylvania was one of the states hit hardest by the Great Recession, and Harrisburg is dealing with a $2.7 million budget deficit as its enrollment declines. The college's president, John Sygielski, told Spotlight PA that the move is part of a larger reorganization to streamline services. External counseling could extend service hours for students and provide virtual options, he said.
The move is controversial, as it comes at a time when most colleges are beefing up mental health services. Suicide was one of the leading causes of death for people aged 15 to 34 in 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the rates of anxiety and depression for students continue to climb.
