By John Syms, Part-Time Staff Writer
Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It helps determine how undergraduates handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Saint Vincent College (SVC) hosts events and talks related to mental health to keep the topic relevant.
On Oct. 12, 2022, Fred Rogers named Rebecca Zill as part time assistant for mental health at SVC. Zill is not a part of any SVC program, however, she is a part of a fellowship within the Fred Rogers Institute. Zill visits the institute once a week to talk about mental health and helps students academically.
Dr. Dana Winters, Executive Director of the Fred Rogers Institute, stated, “We have several fellowships throughout the Fred Rogers Institute. These are outside scholars who advanced the legacy of others through academic study and even mental health.”
The institute is developing programs that will not only support the SVC community, but also other communities outside the college as well.
Zill is a neuropsychologist who used to work at the University of Pittsburgh for the Division of Neuropsychology and Rehabilitation Psychology Program. Zill’s primary goal was to work with student athletes on academics and mental health.
“We are doing a lot of planning and understanding,” Winters said. “Zill is conducting sessions for the needs of Saint Vincent students, and she will be working with athletes in the spring so the support we bring truly meet the needs.”
Winters believes mental health is “one of the leading concerns for children and young people for a very long time, and it is long overdue to be acknowledged by others as either a challenge or issue.” She says that SVC has been working on mental health issues well before they were termed a national emergency. But she hopes the national spotlight will help drive funding because the institute needs a lot of outside funding for the work they do.
If any student on campus is struggling academically or mentally, they can seek help at the Wellness Center located on the first floor of the Carey Center.