Universities and colleges across the United States are finding that an ever-increasing number of students on their campuses are dealing with a variety of mental health issues, ranging from anxiety and depression to thoughts of suicide.

Recent studies and surveys indicate that nearly 45 percent of college students nationally report symptoms of depression, while almost 40 percent report experiencing anxiety.

Perhaps most concerning – up to 15 percent of college students have contemplated suicide. U.S. campuses report that approximately 1,100 students take their own lives each year, making suicide the second-leading cause of death among that demographic.

Western Carolina University is not immune from this growing mental health crisis. Thanks to a significant financial contribution from a WCU alumna, the university’s Counseling and Psychology Services Center now will be able to increase its evaluation and treatment of students struggling with depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions.

Rebecca Schlosser, a 1973 graduate of WCU and former member of the university’s Board of Trustees, recently made a transformative gift to WCU that will enable the center to greatly enhance its services by expanding access, increasing outreach and strengthening its ability to support student well-being.

“For me personally, mental health awareness came to the forefront when my son began struggling with mental health issues in 2007 and 2008 during his junior and senior year in college,” said Schlosser, a resident of Greensboro.

That son, David Edmond Wesley Schlosser, died unexpectedly at the age of 25, just nine days after graduating from Elon University.

“Students need to feel comfortable receiving mental health services,” Schlosser said. “College campuses should prioritize destigmatizing mental health, offering accessible resources and creating a supportive environment. Many times, mental health issues begin in early adulthood, which falls right during the college years. Dealing with the demands of college can add increased anxiety.”

She and her late husband, Greensboro attorney and former Guilford County District Attorney Michael A. Schlosser, made gifts in 2016 to create the David E. W. Schlosser Endowed Scholarship Fund in their son’s memory to provide support for students with demonstrated financial need in WCU’s Brinson Honors College.

They also agreed that they wanted to do something more to provide much-needed resources to WCU to help the university in its efforts to provide services to students struggling with mental health issues, in part to help parents and other family members avoid the heartache that they endured with the loss of their son.

The Schlossers later updated their financial plans to include a commitment to create an endowment to support the work of WCU’s Counseling and Psychological Services Center, a commitment that was fulfilled earlier this year.

In recognition of the gift establishing a program endowment for the center often referred to as CAPS, the university’s Board of Trustees has approved the facility’s renaming to the Schlosser Family Center for Counseling and Psychological Services.

The Schlosser Family Center for Counseling and Psychological Services has a mission of empowering students to engage in and be successful in a range of academic, social and cultural endeavors through fostering psychological wellness. The center provides individual and group counseling to students on a short-term basis at no cost as well as emergency services when a student is experiencing a mental health crisis. It is located in Suite 225 in the Bird Building and reaches beyond its physical office by offering tele-mental health services and appointments at WCU’s Biltmore Park off-campus instructional site.

Over the past few years, the center has consistently offered more than 7,000 appointments to an average of approximately 1,100 individual students annually, said Kim Gorman, associate vice chancellor for health and wellness.

Despite those numbers, the center has not experienced a significant increase in student usage of its services, which is most likely related to a limit in the ability to serve a larger number of students given current staffing restraints, said Caroline Engler, CAPS director. But the center has seen significant increases over the last three years in the severity and complexity of mental health issues presented by student clients, Engler said.

“Our data is consistent with Center for Collegiate Mental Health data in that we continue to see a rise in reported experiences of history of trauma. Additionally, according to CCMH data, WCU students report more frequent and intense experiences with depression, anxiety, eating concerns and suicidal ideation as compared to the national average,” she said.

“Although our students report higher levels of acuity than the national average, our data also indicates that, with treatment, they report more significant declines in experiences of suicidal ideation and overall distress than the CCMH national averages,” Engler said.

An official naming ceremony for the Schlosser Family Center for Counseling and Psychological Services is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 4. Fittingly, September is National Suicide Prevention Month.

“Renaming CAPS is more than just changing the name,” Rebecca Schlosser said. “I speak also on behalf of my late husband. It was our goal to provide this endowed funding to support WCU’s Counseling and Psychological Services and to help to destigmatize the challenges surrounding mental health. Our family wishes to help shine a bright light of hope along this very difficult pathway,” Rebecca Schlosser said.

“To the students at WCU, if you feel you need mental health support, I encourage you to seek services at the Schlosser Family Center for Counseling and Psychological Services,” she said. “You are not alone.”

The Schlosser contribution will enable the center to greatly increase the level of counseling and other psychological services it offers and improve and expand its training program so that additional providers will be able to more adequately address the growing need for mental health services at WCU.

Numerous factors are playing a role in the rise of mental health issues in the United States in recent years, said Engler.

“There is a trend that individuals who seek treatment at university counseling centers have been engaged in treatment prior to coming to college. This tells us that their distress levels are affecting individuals in middle and high schools,” she said.

The global COVID-19 pandemic is frequently cited as one primary source of the increase in mental health issues among young people, causing uncertainty and fear of the unknown, disrupting social connections and interrupting academic schedules, Engler said.

“However, the pandemic simply intersected with other ongoing social factors including the divisiveness we are seeing in our communities – and in our families. This is having an impact on our sense of community and belongingness, both factors that are essential for good mental health,” she said. “Furthermore, research shows the impact of social media has been problematic and contributing to mental health symptoms. Finally, there is much evidence of the impact of sleep disruption, often caused by excessive cell phone use and gaming, on mental health symptoms for teens.”

The additional services made possible by the Schlosser gift will help a larger number of students receive the mental health services they need to be able to stay enrolled in school and on track to graduate, said Gorman.

A 2023 research project conducted by Gorman and WCU colleague Kathleen Brennan, professor of sociology, found that students who seek help for their mental health issues are more likely to persist in their educational journey.

“We know that our services are helpful for retention of students as demonstrated by our recent study. The results indicate a higher number of counseling sessions was helpful in retention efforts for all students at the university,” Gorman said. “So, this gift is an investment in our students.”

Gorman and Brennan published the results of their study in a paper titled “More Sessions Make a Difference: University Counseling Centers and Student Retention” in the June 2023 edition of the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice.

“We just feel immense gratitude,” Gorman said. “This gift is an incredible acknowledgement of the importance of mental health services at WCU.”

Rebecca Schlosser earned her bachelor’s degree in education. While a student at WCU, she was a member of Delta Zeta sorority, spent four years as a majorette with the marching band, and was a member of both Kappa Delta Pi and Alpha Phi Sigma honor societies. The WCU chapter of Phi Delta Kappa named her Most Outstanding Female Student at WCU her senior year.

After completing her undergraduate studies, she taught at a private all-girls school in New York before returning to school at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, earning her master’s degree in education there in 1983. During her time at UNCG, she met her future husband and helped him start his law firm.

Mike Schlosser was a graduate of Virginia Military Institute and Wake Forest University School of Law. He died in February 2024, 10 years after he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and amyloidosis as a result of his exposure to Agent Orange as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Paratrooper Corps serving a tour in South Vietnam.

Rebecca Schlosser served on the WCU Board of Trustees from 2017 until 2023 and formerly served on the university’s Foundation Board of Directors and Board of Visitors. A member of the Madison Legacy and Cullowhee giving societies, she served on the steering committee for WCU’s previous “Lead the Way” comprehensive fundraising campaign. She is an involved member of the Triad alumni chapter and frequently hosts Triad-area events at her Greensboro home. The Schlossers have been annual donors to WCU since 1990.

The naming of the Schlosser Family Center for Counseling and Psychological Services comes as WCU is in the midst of the public phase of its “Fill the Western Sky” comprehensive fundraising campaign, an effort to raise a minimum of $100 million in philanthropic support for the university’s academic, student engagement and athletics programs.

For more information about the “Fill the Western Sky” campaign or to make a contribution, visit WesternSky.wcu.edu, call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu. 

WCU chancellor, ‘first dude’ back the ‘Fill the Western Sky’ campaign with a $4 million estate gift

By BILL STUDENC  

When Western Carolina University Chancellor Kelli R. Brown unveiled plans for a comprehensive fundraising campaign shortly after her arrival in 2019, she prioritized seeking philanthropic support for enhancements to the overall student experience, including academics, athletics, and community and global engagement. 

As the “Fill the Western Sky” campaign enters its public phase, Brown is putting her money where her priorities are. She and husband Dennis recently made an estate gift of $4 million that will benefit 11 university funds. 

The Browns’ leadership gift will support endowments for scholarships for first-generation students; military student services; academic programming; student-athletes and athletics facilities; the marching band; and student success and emergency funds. The estate gift is in addition to $100,000 toward athletics facilities renovations from the Browns in 2023. 

“During our short time here, Dennis and I have learned what a difference WCU makes in the lives of students. We have seen the transformative effect it has for students, their families and ultimately the communities in which they live,” she said. “We wanted to have an impact on the full student experience.” 

One of the new endowed funds is in honor of her father and supports military students, while a portion of the gift goes toward a previously established scholarship fund in honor of her mother. 

“My parents guided, nudged and supported me in so many ways. They were always there for us kids, and one thing was certain – we were going to college,” she said. “My dad served in the Air Force as a captain, and he was a member of ROTC while in college, which helped support his degree. I wanted to support our students who are current military, veterans and reservists. Without these young men and women defending our democracy, the United States may look very different.” 

For Dennis Brown, a first-generation college student, philanthropy was not a part of his formative years, as is the case for many WCU alumni and donors of modest means who tend to focus on simply paying the bills. 

“My parents came from very humble beginnings and did not even finish high school. My siblings and I were raised like my parents – success in life came by being honest and hard-working.  Education beyond high school  was seldom discussed because of the cost and the need to support our family,” he said. 

Possessing a shared eagerness to learn, he and his siblings found ways to attend college. “My degree changed my life,” he said. “Being first-generation and experiencing the success my degree has afforded me, and knowing the number of first-generation students that WCU serves, it has become important for me to give back and transform the lives of our students and their families.” 

While selecting what areas to support through their estate gift, the Browns agreed it was important to include improvements to Catamount athletics facilities – a top campaign priority. 

“Western takes great pride in providing students with an overall college experience that is second to none. Athletics is an important part of the total college experience. It enhances visibility that allows us to recruit and retain students,” she said. “I am asking alumni and friends to support our athletics facilities, and it only seemed appropriate that Dennis and I contribute as well. We need to walk the talk.” 

Funds support by the Browns’ estate gift: 

* Dennis & Kelli Brown Endowed Scholarship – For incoming freshmen from the Western North Carolina counties of Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon or Swain, with preference to first-generation college students. 

* Charlene L.F. McCormack Endowed Scholarship – Originally established in 2020 in honor of her late mother to provide financial support to first-generation college students who live in the seven westernmost counties of North Carolina. 

* James R. McCormack Veterans Program Endowment – To support the Office of Military Student Services for experiential learning and professional development activities for students who are veterans or active military members. 

* Dennis and Kelli Brown Fine and Performing Arts Program Endowment – To support experiential learning and professional development opportunities for students in the David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts. 

* Kelli and Dennis Brown Health and Human Sciences Program Endowment – To establish a speaker series that will bring to campus industry-leading scholars and experts for the benefit of students in the College of Health and Human Sciences. 

* Dennis and Kelli Brown Football Program Endowment – To support summer football program room and board expenses and nutrition stations for the benefit of student-athletes on the Catamount football team. 

* Dennis and Kelli Brown Volleyball Program Endowment – To support operational needs of the WCU volleyball program. 

* Dennis and Kelli Brown Men’s Basketball Program Endowment – To support operational needs of the Catamount men’s basketball program. 

* Kelli Brown Student Success Program Endowment – To support experiential learning and professional development opportunities such as student travel for professional conferences, workshops and similar activities away from campus. 

* Dennis Brown Pride of the Mountains Marching Band Program Endowment – To support the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band for program activities and travel to competition and invited events.  

* WCU Student Affairs Emergency Fund – To support a fund, administered by the Division of Student Affairs, that provides monetary assistance to students who find themselves in times of unexpected financial crisis. 

Chancellor Brown said it was not an easy task to determine which of the many deserving areas of the university to support with their estate gift. 

“Dennis and I listed a number of programs and colleges or units we wanted to support going forward.  We narrowed down to two colleges – Fine and Performing Arts and Health and Human Sciences – to assist with student travel and a speaker’s series. We also wanted to endow a scholarship that was for incoming freshmen from the six surrounding counties that would be renewable for four years,” she said.  

“And Dennis has loved the marching band from the day we arrived, so it was easy for us to support the Pride of the Mountains annual banquet and travel to events such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. We wanted to also support athletics with an endowed fund to assist with the football summer program and operations for men’s basketball and women’s volleyball. Finally, we wanted to support the Office of Student Success to provide funds to assist students to be able to participate in experiential learning activities,” she said. 

The decision to support the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band was a no-brainer, Dennis Brown said. 

“Have you seen the band perform? Have you seen the hours of hard work they put in to present such awesome performances? I have. We’ve been with the band in New York City as they performed in the Macy’s parade and most recently in Dublin, Ireland. The staff and students give so much of their time and effort and are such powerful ambassadors for our university. This is a program that goes beyond developing musical or dance talent. Rather, it is a demanding environment developing camaraderie, teamwork, leadership and a sense of belonging or family,” he said. 

“Although I am not that musically inclined, I can’t get enough of seeing and listening to them perform.  And having the opportunity to get to know some of them on a first-name basis, it was important for me to ensure the continued success and the legacy of our Pride of Mountains,” he said. 

The Browns’ estate gift comes as WCU enters the public phase of its “Fill the Western Sky” comprehensive fundraising campaign, an effort to raise a minimum of $100 million in philanthropic support for the university’s academic, student engagement and athletics programs. For more information or to make a contribution to the campaign, visit WesternSky.wcu.edu, call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.