Minot State began a new mental health outreach program, Let’s Talk: Drop-in Counseling Services, for students during the Fall 2019 semester, according to a press release from MSU.

“We wanted to see how the needs of our students could be best met outside of the office,” Troy Roness, Minot State clinical mental health and outreach counselor, said. “Last semester, we decided that getting over to the Dome a couple hours a week and getting over to the Student Center was the best way to maybe take the stigma away.”

Roness and Nancy Mickelson, Minot State student counselor, offer personal counseling services in the student health and development center, located in the lower level of Lura Manor.

Let’s Talk allows students to stop and ask questions regarding specific services, topics, and outreach initiatives or be seen, right then, for a full counseling session if the student is in a crisis mode.

The program will continue during the Spring 2020 semester with a possible expansion into the residence halls.

“Prevention is so much more important than intervention,” Roness said. “One of the biggest things I’ve heard from students and parents is that oh, it’s just the move to college. Most people don’t consider that to be a significant issue or sleep to be a significant issue but there can be adjustment issues with coming to college, which leads to anxiety and depression and all those things.

“I think the stigma with mental health really comes down to it’s not a physical problem so it’s not that big a deal. And I think if you can go in for an antibiotic for a cold or an infection, you should absolutely be able to come in and talk with somebody for a half hour, 45 minutes, to make sure you’re emotionally well, too.”

Let’s Talk: Drop-in Counseling Services is held Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon in the Souris Room, located on the second floor of the Student Center. On Monday Let’s Talk moves to the Christensen Room, located on the second floor of the Minot State Dome from 1-2 p.m.

Counseling services are available 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the student health and development center. While appointments are preferred, emergency walk-ins will receive priority and be addressed immediately.