CBU prioritizes mental health and well-being on campus

Riverside, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2024) – Being a college student means undergoing a lot of transitions while also balancing academics, social and family-related relationships, and becoming an adult. 

“We scientifically know that the 18- to 24-year-old age range can be hard. Your body, brain, and chemistry are still changing and developing,” said Lisa Peredia, assistant director of the Counseling Center at California Baptist University. “Trying to navigate a new balance in life that you’re not used to can be difficult and can produce mental health struggles.”  

Additionally, Taylor Higgins, director of student mental health in the Student Support office, helps students connect to resources on and off campus. She also teaches faculty and staff about mental health so they know how to respond when students say they are struggling. In August, she trained student-serving staff on suicidal ideation, including what to look for and how to speak with students on the topic. 

“An important piece of prevention is early identification. We've had a lot of positive feedback that staff feel more comfortable in those hard conversations and now know what questions to ask and who to call,” Higgins said. 

Peredia encourages students who are struggling to seek any support — from peers, family, staff or faculty. 

“As long as you reach out here at CBU, you're going to find support. Please speak up. You don't have to do it alone and you are not alone,” Peredia said.  

“When life feels like too much, or you start noticing changes in how you are feeling — you're finding it harder to go to class, or you're wanting to stay alone more — it's time to speak up, seek support, and seek help,” Peredia said. 

Bill Fiala, lead clinical supervisor at the Counseling Center, encourages students to start with the basics: eat, sleep, exercise, pray and connect. 

“We're created for community, so bearing one another's burdens and reaching out is a part of being well,” Fiala said. “They're doing what they're built to do when they reach out.”  

“While the stigma of receiving help for mental health still exists, it is lessening,” Fiala said.  

Students suggesting to others that counseling is a good resource is often the best referral. Some students may think that seeking help means they are weak or something is really wrong.  

"If you're not feeling physically well, you go to see a doctor. People don't think I'm weak because I have a cold. It is a sign of strength to care for yourself by coming in to talk with someone,” he said. 

Higgins said her mission is to think about each student as a whole person so they can be fully prepared for their future careers — mentally, spiritually, socially, and academically.  

“We have to think about how we can systemically build a campus that has well-being, that has prevention, that's a safe place,” she said. 

CBU offers many resources to help students navigate this time. The Counseling Center has 31 counselors offering individual and group therapy services to all CBU students who live in California, including undergraduate, graduate, and online students. Sessions are available in person or online, depending on the student’s needs. If the counselors cannot meet a student's needs, they can refer the student to outside professional counseling.  

Students are also encouraged to use an app, WellTrack Boost, which provides information about topics such as anxiety, depression, and mood regulation and offers students a way to track their mood at no additional cost while remaining anonymous and confidential. 

“Our clinicians are amazing and gifted in what they're doing here. We see miracles, healing, and transformation happen every day,” Peredia said. “It is an honor to connect with our students, to serve them, and to offer a safe space to heal.”  

Counseling Center: CBU Wellness Center, 3626 Monroe St., Riverside, CA 92504 
Email: ccrecept@calbaptist.edu; phone: 951-343-5050 

The Counseling Center is open weekdays 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters and weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m. during summer 

The Student Support Office is open weekdays 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and it is located in Lancer Plaza.  
Email: mentalhealth@calbaptist.edu or studentcare@calbaptist.edu; phone: 951-552-8100