ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – A social work faculty member who will offer virtual mental health sessions for students and others has been selected as Winthrop University’s 2023-24 Thompson Scholar.
Sara English ‘14, an assistant professor of social work and coordinator of the gerontology minor program, started Tuesday Tune-ups this spring. The sessions were created as a way to address anxiety and isolation, providing a path for connection to the self and the community, as society continues to emerge from the fog of the pandemic.
The Thompson Scholar program is generated through the Robert and Norma Thompson Endowment which was established during the university's first capital campaign. Over the past two decades, it has provided a $5,000 award so faculty members can work on projects that help students and the community and strengthen the university’s academic, intellectual and co-curricular life.
In her proposal, English outlined how the Tuesday Tune-ups improve emotional wellness through short, intentional mindfulness exercises. The weekly sessions occur during common time and provide the Winthrop community with opportunities to learn and practice techniques that aim to increase focus and decrease anxiety, while providing meaningful, sustainable and portable practices.
The current project is in collaboration with the National Association of Social Workers – South Carolina Chapter (NASW-SC) and Winthrop’s Department of Social Work. The program is developed by English, using the training she gained through University of California, Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. The current workshops are open to healthcare professionals, social workers and the Winthrop community, including students, staff and faculty, and will go forward with a specific goal of improving student mental health and well-being.
The current proposal will adapt the pilot project for a unique student focus and will run through spring 2024.
Mental Health a Fundamental Need
English said mental health and wellness is a fundamental need for students to succeed academically, cognitively and socially. Despite existing efforts to provide support, many students continue to flounder in academic settings, particularly in respect to challenges and changes associated with COVID-19.
Peter Judge, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs noted that English’s project aligns with the Thompsons’ priorities. “Sara’s project fits perfectly with the desire of the Thompsons to promote well-being in our students and thus their success. They were so enthusiastic about this award!”
Bob and Norma Thompson confirmed their excitement with the recent award. “We congratulate Dr. English on her selection as our latest Thompson Scholar. We all know how important staying on top of mental health and well-being is, particularly since the pandemic. We applaud her for helping students stay in tune with their emotional wellness, and we appreciate her commitment to Winthrop and its students.”
An alarming report to the U.S. Census Bureau found that almost half of all young adults in the United States reported struggles with mental illness and well-being. Though rates of mental health challenges have decreased slightly since the early days of the pandemic, many young adults continue to experience anxiety, dysthymia, stress and ennui. These struggles directly impact colleges and universities, which have experienced persistent challenges to enrollment and retention over the past few years.
English’s research reveals that reported levels of stress are more pronounced among women and non-binary students, with female (76 percent) and non-binary (81 percent) students more likely than male students (55 percent) to report challenges with mental health. Students think online help would be beneficial.
English will use social work students as research interns through the process and then to help assess the results.
She earned a Ph.D. in social work from the University of South Carolina, a master’s degree in social work from Winthrop and a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science from Columbia College.
About the Thompsons
Bob Thompson, retired vice president of Springs Industries, formerly served on Winthrop’s Board of Trustees from 1992-05 and 2008-14, including a term as chair. His other civic commitments include serving as chair of the Winthrop Foundation and on the Board of Visitors. He received the College of Business Administration’s Pinnacle/Summit Award in 2011, which recognized him for his leadership and support of public and higher education. His wife, Norma Thompson, has dedicated her life to the community as a homemaker, former elementary school teacher and civic volunteer.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2236 or e-mail her at longshawj@winthrop.edu.
