Counseling and Consultation Services director testified about proposed act

Louise Douce, psychologist and director of Counseling and Consultation Services at The Ohio State University, testified at 10 a.m. today (4/28) before the U.S. Senate’s Subcommittee on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, part of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, in support of the proposed College Care and Counseling Act.

The bill (S. 2215) was introduced in the U.S. Senate last March by Sens. Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Jack Reed (D-RI) to create national awareness about the behavioral and mental health needs of college students.

In her testimony, Douce outlined the growing mental and behavioral needs of college students, and discussed the importance of mental and behavioral health services on college campuses. She says the services help to maximize student success, increase retention and graduation rates, provide crisis management, provide mental health consultation to faculty and staff, develop prevention strategies and ensure an appropriate continuum of care.

Douse is available for interviews from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.