Undergraduate advisors in the Department of Computer Science Joshua Fletcher and Vernell Wilks published an article in the September 2024 edition of Academic Advising Today, the quarterly electronic publication of NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising. Fletcher discusses their article, "Academic Advisors' Mental Health Literacy and Experiences Working with Students Facing Emotional and Mental Health Issues” in the Q&A below:
Q: What inspired you to write this article?
Fletcher: Earlier this year, Vernell and I attended the Regional 2 [Mid-Atlantic Region] conference in New Jersey where we discovered the opportunity to write for NACADA. Because we have so many personal experiences as advisors, we thought it would be a great idea to share some of our stories with other advisors.
Q: How does mental health literacy inform your work?
Fletcher: Our article on mental health literacy encourages advisors to gather information from research and from other advisors so as to become more informed about how to effectively work with students who struggle with mental and emotional health issues. This effort strengthens the mental health literacy of advisors by collaboration and self-training. We firmly believe that more resources are needed for the advisors when it comes to these issues.
Q: What are you hoping readers take away from your article?
Fletcher: It is our hope that round table discussions will begin to take place in the educational setting at higher ed institutions so that advisors and other administrative staff will become more adept at working with this population. We feel that these efforts would benefit both the staff as well as the students.
Those interested in reading Wilks and Fletcher’s article, “Academic Advisors' Mental Health Literacy and Experiences Working with Students Facing Emotional and Mental Health Issues,” can find it on the Academic Advising Today website.