1. Muhammad Saahir, M.S., Ed.S. IU Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) @IUHealthCenter Bloomington Academic Advisors Council Serving Muslim Students

2. Agenda What is CAPS doing to serve Muslim students? Barriers for Muslim students? Problematic distress/symptoms CAPS services

3. How is CAPS serving Muslims? Offering services (keeping in mind specific needs of Muslim students) –Team consultations Breaking barriers & Building rapport –Meeting with MSA/student leaders –Diversity Outreach Team Upcoming event (April 4, 2016) –CAPS services for Muslim students

4. Common Disorders We See Adjustment Anxiety Depression

5. Barriers to counseling Cultural stigma (not just Islamic) Eurocentric/ “Western” approach –Can I trust this? –Do I really need help? –Will they understand me? Am I going against the will of Allah/G-d? –Is this a test?

6. Symptoms of Distress Difficulty … –Sleeping –Eating –Enjoying activities –Concentrating Fatigued/low energy Irritability Sadness Low self-esteem Tearfulness Anxious Thoughts/behaviors of harm to self or others Somatic symptoms (aches, pains, nausea) Getting sick often

7. Clues as to how problematic the distress is… How long has he/she been feeling this way? When did it begin? Has he/she ever felt this way before? How are the symptoms impairing the functioning of the student?

8. How CAPS Can Help! IU Health Center, 4 th Floor, Monday-Friday, 8am-5:00pm 2 FREE Sessions, $25/session –Individual, group, couples –Make an appointment: 812-855-5711 –After-hour crisis line: 812-855-5711, option 1 Emergency Services:  CAPS-Now: Mon– Fri, 8am-4:30pm for an assessment w/in 48 hours.  Emergency Assessment: Come to CAPS during business hours.  After-hours crisis line: 855-5711, option 1 FREE Workshops

9. CAPS Services Cont. Psychiatry Sexual Assault Crisis Service (SACS) 24 hour crisis line (855-8900) Free counseling for survivors of a recent sexual assault Info & assistance with medical, judicial or legal issues

10. Significantly shorter wait for first visit! No guessing which CAPS service to use! Students can’t “walk-in” for emergency counseling like they used to What’s Different

11. Who Comes to CAPS? 4,120 IU students for 20,138 appts.! Most students come for 1 to 8 sessions Reasons: Stress; Anxiety Relationships (friends, partners, family) Academics (career, test anxiety, time mgmt, procrastination) Mood problems (adjusting, sadness, Depression) Alcohol and Drug use Cultural adjustment, power & privilege, discrimination Body image, problematic eating/exercise Sex, gender & identity concerns

12. Questions?