Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Ment By Steven B. Folles Gamecock Staff Writer There is a tremendous amount of psychological stress involved in any academic setting. To this problem. USC adds the tensions of living in an urban situation. Additionally, tension and anxiety are compounded as the individual attempts to live-in and cope with an enormous, bureaucratic in stitution of 20 00 members. Only a few prove to be totally prepared to cope with existence in such an environment. And in South Carolina, where college preparatory education is below the national level and the student's background is likely to be rural, the difficulties of ad justment are probably increased. The USC student may be confused by his environment, and simultaneously be under great pressure to succeed. Because of his confusion. he may not know where, or to whom, to go to for help. If he already has mental or emotional problems, the dif ficulties are compounded because these must be overcome before any external problems can be dealt with. Where can USC students go for help with personal problems? If he or she lives in a dorm, help may be very near in the form of a dorm counselor. But if the student lives off-campus, alone or otherwise, it may prove more difficult to find a confidante experienced in dealing with We're looking for ni work the er Proi For more information talk to y Wh al Healt ii0. Dr. Roger B. Bowersock emotional problems. When this is the case, the most common impulse may be to seek medical help. At Carolina, the medical profession is represented by University Health Services (the infirmary) and Dr. Isao Hirata, the chief University physician. Dr. Hirata said that the in firmary has tried to help students who'came in with mental or drug problems, -but he noted that a full-time psychiatrist has not been available until this year when Dr. Noel Johnson was hired to fill that post. en who have a solid found iergy of the future. I ti ram -NUPOC. You'll ap plant theory and opera difficult problems t principles. on how to take off, anr local navy recruiter in re To Turn' For He h Servic "Our policy is not to have. any policy," Dr. Hirata said in referring to students seeking psychiatric aid. He said the infirmary's aims rest on three precepts: remaining within the law, maintaining absolute con fidentiality, and treating each case on its individual merits. Asked what would happen if a. student came to the infirmary with an illegal drug problem. Dr. Hirata replied, "We, ourselves, do not report anything to anybody." The infirmary does not become involved in police activities, but rather, con centrates on helping the student, he said. If there is to be any new in firmary policy regarding mental health treatment, it .will have to be formulated by the university's new psychiatrist, Dr. Johnson. As Dr. Hirata said, "My decision is to let him make the decision." Help of a more definite nature is available for members of the USC community from two other organizations, the Counseling Bureau and the Psychological Services Center. In contrast to Health Service uncertainty in dealing with mental and emotional problems, Dr. Roger Bowersock of the Counseling Bureau stated unequivocally, "That's why we're here." The bureau, located in room 203 of the Pendleton Building, is divided into four centers. The Career Development Center in in Math and Physic at's you, Look into our mnd a year learning the 31 ion. 'lhese details will em arough application of Fum Set your sights high. nmasn. or call him. es Exan Dr. Robert E. Deysach deals with student problems relatir1g to a career, such as selecting a major field of study, and helps to make students aware of educational op portunities available to them. The Communications Skills Development Center helps students who have deficiencies in skills necessary for academic success at the university level, such as note-taking, reading -speed and study habits. The Special Programs Development Center includes programs aimed at helping veterans readjust to civilian society. It encompasses Enginei Way To' Be Someo Join The Ni If you'" an outstandii or someone who can n1 technology, .you may qualify for 01 SNuclear Er 's. Men with superior abil Nuclear Propulsion Office many details of nuclear pri thance your ability to solv idamental engineering Go Navy. 271 CAluml programs such as Upward Bound, Veterans Counseling and Veterans Administration programs. It also administers programs for handicapped students, primarily blind students, in cooperation with the South Carolina Commission oor the Blind. The Personal Development Center, which Dr. Bowersock directs, ' deals primarily with social and emotional problems. The bureau as a whole dealt with 2,600 clients in fiscal year 1973-74, involving 21,000 hours of work, according to their annual survey. Of the total work hours, 4,500 hours were in the Personal Development Center. They processed 910 people, the over whelming majority students, and some faculty and staff. Both sexes were represented in numbers equal to their propor tion in the general population. Every school of the University was also proportionally represented. The largest number of patients, 53.3 per cer.., lived off-campus on their own. 14.3 per cent lived with their parents; 4.2 per cent were married; and 26.7 per cent lived in dormitories. One-third of all the patients were 25 years or older. The lowest levels were in the 17 to21-year old bracket, and about 20 per cent were 22 to 24-years old. Although the Counseling Bureau offers various types of Please Turn To Page 14 er Your The Top ie Special iclear Navy ig engineering graduate, inster advanced ue of our top programs. gmneermng. ty. Men who want to r Candidate )pulsion Lt. Rick McManus 1 Middleburg Drive :>ia S. C. 765-5991