STAPLES — Lakewood Health System was approached in early 2020 by Central Lakes College to pilot a behavioral health services program for students led by Lakewood’s behavioral health home integration specialist, Amanda Mithun.
The licensed marriage and family therapist provided therapy and a listening ear to students in need, but the pilot program shut down with the coronavirus pandemic, with no immediate plans of reinstatement.
Mithun’s services were needed, however, in November 2020 following the death of two CLC students in a car crash. Mithun met with grieving students the next day to help them process the accident.
From that point, Mithun’s services were requested by students on a more frequent basis, so Lakewood and CLC began a joint venture to make that happen.
“The partnership between CLC and Lakewood Health System’s behavioral health department has been vital to the success of meeting our students’ mental health needs,” said Mary Sam, CLC dean of students, equity and inclusion, in a news release.
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Mithun is onsite at CLC’s Staples campus two days a week for four hours and available for virtual visits as well. Students can schedule a time to meet with her or drop in when they are able. All sessions are confidential and free to students.
“Students from our Brainerd and Staples campuses are accessing clinical services face-to-face or virtually, and it has had a very positive impact on students’ lives,” Sam stated.
Mithun has also assisted in employee development to help them better understand mental health, which has empowered them to be stronger champions to get students to seek services, according to the news release.
