Following Friday's tragic event, there has been a push across campus to focus on mental health. The University of New Mexico has no shortage of experts and researchers who study the impacts of traumatic events on the mind, body, and community.
Tameka Gillum, Ph.D., has been a violence researcher for over 25 years. Having been trained as a psychologist and now researching for the College of Population Health at the UNM Health Sciences Center, she said in the past few years, gun violence has been the leading cause of death amongst young people in our country.
“Any loss of life is troubling, but even more so when you think about the fact that there are things we could potentially do to better address and to reduce that,” Gillum said. “But when you think about the trauma associated with loss that’s experienced in such a violent way, that exacerbates the trauma and the mental health consequences that people experience as a result of that.”
Gillum said the trauma can extend to loved ones of the individual that is lost—family members, friends, teachers. She said there are significant trauma and psychological consequences associated with those who are exposed to community violence.
“When you consider that there were other people in the room where the violence took place, even though they didn’t necessarily experience the physical wounds, they were still exposed to trauma,” Gillum said.
In other cases regarding gun violence, Gillum said the survivors of violence also experience both short and long term physical and psychological consequences.
“There’s significant research to support that both being a victim of gun violence as well as exposure to gun violence increases the risk of a whole host of mental health consequences—everything from post-traumatic stress disorder to depression and anxiety, to feelings of distrust and unsafety.”
- Tameka Gillum, UNM HSC associate professor, College of Population Health
“It increases people's risk for substance use disorder. Violence in that way can cause significant psychological trauma that can go unaddressed for years, especially in communities of color where sometimes mental health is stigmatized, oftentimes people may end up self-medicating with substances.”
She likened the unaddressed trauma to having a physical infection. If it goes untreated, it usually gets worse.
Cortny Stark, Ph.D., assistant professor for the Department of Individual, Family, & Community Education has served as a licensed professional councilor for 12 years.
“According to Cognitive Processing Therapy (by Resnick), avoidance is the driver of post-traumatic stress disorder. When we attempt to compartmentalize the stress associated with a traumatic event – and fail to allow our bodies to experience our fight, flight, freeze response - we are more likely to experience long term disruption and continued anxiety and distress," Stark said.
“The mind can become overwhelmed, with intrusive thoughts, often these thoughts return to the aspects of our belief system that are challenged by the trauma. Those beliefs most challenged are: The world is a safe place, and I am capable and competent. When something happens, like the nonsensical death of a community member to gun violence, we find ourselves questioning whether the places we once considered safe are in fact safe. We question whether we are competent to prevent these sorts of horrific things from happening, and/or whether the things we do that we think make a difference or help others are enough. We lose our sense of power and control in our environment and relationships.”
Stark says her favorite ways to improve mental health after a traumatic event include watching familiar films, talking through thoughts and feelings with family or colleagues, eating comfort food, and finding a way to participate in community change like donating to a family’s fundraiser or attending a vigil or protest.
The University of New Mexico provides several mental health resources for students, employees, and the community. Please see the list below to find an option right for you.
Student Health and Counseling (SHAC)
Students
SHAC Counseling Services provides individual counseling through episodes of counseling care, one-time counseling appointments, case management, ADHD testing, psychiatry evaluations and medication management, counseling groups, and support groups. The Collegiate Recovery Center offers peer recovery support space within SHAC and weekly recovery groups online and virtually. SHAC Health Promotions provides mental health workshops and other health related education.
TimelyCare – Telehealth for Students
Students
Actively registered University of New Mexico students have free, 24/7 access to virtual care services with TimelyCare — a virtual health and well-being platform designed for college students. Students do not need insurance to access TimelyCare services. As part of The University of New Mexico’s partnership with TimelyCare, students have access to services in TimelyCare, including:
MedicalNow: On-demand support for common health issues, including cold, flu, and allergies.
TalkNow: 24/7, on-demand emotional support to talk about anything, including anxiety, relationships, depression, and school-related stressors.
Scheduled Medical: Choose the day, time, and medical provider that best works for you.
Scheduled Counseling: Choose the day, time, and mental health provider that best works for you. (12 visits per year)
Health Coaching: Develop healthy lifestyle behaviors, including nutrition, sleep habits, time management, and mindfulness.
Psychiatry: Appointments are available through referrals.
Self-Care Content: Visit the “Explore” page within TimelyCare for guided self-care content, including yoga and meditation sessions, as well as group conversations with our providers on a variety of health and well-being topics.
Basic Needs Support: Access to low or reduced-cost community resources, including food and housing assistance, transit support, childcare, and finances.
Students have access to TimelyCare services 365 days a year. That means you have access during breaks, after-hours, and any time you need support!
Counseling, Assistance & Referral Services (CARS)
UNM Employees
Counseling, Assistance and Referral Services (CARS) is the Employee Assistance Program for The University of New Mexico and UNM Health Sciences. CARS promotes a healthy work-life balance by providing free and confidential services to benefits-eligible faculty, staff, their domestic partners and UNM retirees from UNM Main and Branch Campuses and UNM Health Sciences.
Women's Resource Center Counceling Services
UNM Employees, Students
The Women's Resource Center offers free in-person and remote (tele-health) mental health care. They partner with the UNM Mental Health Collaborative to provide counseling services to the UNM communty. The MHC is currently limited to only providing counseling to UNM students in the fall and spring semesters.
Their goal is to promote and normalize mental health awareness through free counseling, crisis intervention, support groups, and referral resources. They seek to make, safe and inclusive, mental health care accessible to the UNM community regardless of gender identity, sex, race, ability status, age, sexual orientation, economic class, or religious affiliation.
If you are struggling with:
- Stress/Anxiety
- Academic pressure
- Depression
- Bad Days/Transitions
- Relationship issues
- Traumatic experiences
Or any other life issue, you don’t have to go through this alone. They are there to help!
Please e-mail mhccounseling@unm.edu or call (505) 277-3712 for more information or to make an appointment!
Psychology Clinic
Community
The UNM Department of Psychology Clinic is a training clinic for Ph.D. students in the Clinical Psychology Program. Students are mentored by faculty members who are recognized experts in their respective specialty areas of clinical psychology. Students provide state of the art empirically supported therapies and comprehensive assessments to youth and adults under the direct supervision of clinical psychology faculty. They offer sliding scale fees for both therapy and assessment services. No one will be turned away due to inability to pay.
They encourage anyone who would benefit from these services to reach out to the clinic at 505-277-5164 to discuss their needs. They can dispel any myths about mental health issues, therapy, or assessment and help people feel comfortable receiving high quality mental health treatment in a supportive setting. They will collaboratively set goals and help you reach them to improve your functioning and quality of life.
Agora Crisis Center
Community
The Agora Crisis Center provides a help line (505-277-3013) for UNM students, faculty, staff, and the community. Agora provides support for people experiencing a crisis (suicidal ideation, grief, domestic violence, depression, etc.) or for navigating any life difficulty.
Manzanita Counseling Center (open during academic year)
Community
Manzanita Counseling Center is a community outreach program provided by The University of New Mexico Counselor Education Program. Manzanita Counseling Center has been in existence for over 25 years and is the only free counseling clinic in Albuquerque. Counseling is provided by advanced graduate students under the supervision of UNM faculty who are licensed professional counselors.
