Fresno State Student Health and Counseling Center expanding services for graduates

As Fresno State seniors prepare to say goodbye to their academic journey, many students are beginning to experience the challenges that come with this change.

As graduation approaches for many seniors, academic pressure, career uncertainty, financial hardship and social and emotional burdens loom for many. 

For graduating seniors like Julie Soares, an international student from France, stress and anxiety have shown her the importance of staying aware of her mental health needs.

“Trying to not stress that much because, that’s way more stressful as that’s the last year,” said Soares. “So obviously you’re thinking about so much different things. What’s going to happen after and like. So I’m trying to keep being consistent to not just burn out from stress.”

Soares, a marketing and social science major, who also works in the equipment checkout room inside the Speech Arts building, is taking the time to figure out what her next steps will be after graduation.

Many other students are choosing to meet with counselors inside the Student Health and Counseling Center for advice and guidance through this transition. 

“So we actually find here that anxiety tends to be a bigger problem for our students than depression, typically, and that makes sense because again nowadays we all have so much on our plates, and we’re all so busy, and just so much going on, and so much pressure of course, especially for students,” said Malia Sherman, director of counseling and psychological services.

While anxiety and depression among students is high, the most common causes are personal and financial hardships. 

The Student Health and Counseling Center is collaborating with centers in Fresno to ensure graduates have constant and accessible counseling and guidance.

“Trying to get them connected with services in the community because of course once students graduate, they’re no longer eligible for counseling here,” Sherman said. “So we have a lot of community partnerships where we try to get students linked up and transitioned over to those services.”

The Student Health and Counseling Center is urging graduating and incoming seniors to take advantage of the resources and services while they are still available.

Students looking to meet with a counselor can make an in-person or virtual appointment through the Student Health and Counseling Center on the Fresno State website.