Final answer:
There is a need for an escort when individuals with mental health issues face long wait times for professional help, when mental health issues are widespread, and when the staff-to-student ratio is too high, indicating insufficient access to timely mental health services.
Step-by-step explanation:
When is there a need for an escort in the context of mental health standards?
According to mental health standards, the need for an escort arises when individuals with mental health issues require support or assistance that cannot be delayed or when their condition necessitates a companion for safety and support purposes. This can happen under various scenarios:
Long wait times for mental health services can exacerbate stress and anxiety in individuals seeking help. For instance, Kay Payne, a campus counselor, mentioned approximately 10 days wait for an appointment, indicating the urgent need for additional support in the form of an escort.
- Mental health issues are prevalent within the student community, as evidenced by a recent survey where 75 percent of 250 students reported experiencing mental health issues. An escort can provide immediate support and prevent situations from escalating in such widespread circumstances.
- The staff-to-student ratio is too high, according to the International Accreditation of Counseling Services which recommends one full-time equivalent staff member for every 1,000 to 1,500 students. An escort can serve as an interim support system when professional help is thin on the ground.
Apart from these points, other evidence supporting the need for escorts includes multiple reports of students unable to secure timely counseling appointments, a rise in Americans seeking mental health help during the pandemic, and regulations granting psychiatric service animals the same status as other service animals for those with an emotional or psychiatric disability.
In the context of college campuses, more counselors are urgently needed, particularly at the south campus, to meet the needs of the students and to provide escorts where necessary to accommodate students' schedules, including day and night availability.