The April 16 massacre at Virginia Tech marked the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, when senior English major Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed 33 people, including himself. Two weeks later, Sacramento State students are still questioning why school officials and psychologists didn’t force Cho to participate in mandatory therapy sessions.

“I don’t understand why (Cho) wasn’t in a psychiatric hospital or taking part in some kind of-therapy program,” Sac State sophomore philosophy major Renee Harris said. “He obviously needed help?The school should have made him get it.” Clinical Psychologist Paul Turner, who has worked at the Sac State Psychological Counseling Services Center since 1983, said it is often difficult to get psychological help for the students who need it most.

“People who are disturbed, like this young man, are the people who are most reluctant to come (to a clinic and receive counseling),” Turner said. “I know he was evaluated and that treatment had been recommended?he just didn’t follow through. We, as counselors, have no way of making people come to counseling.”

Turner said that giving students the time they need for follow-up sessions could also be difficult, depending on the time of year. –

“At the beginning of the semester, when-we don’t have-a-waiting list, people are seen almost immediately,” Turner said. “As-we hit the later part of the semester and everyone’s stress and anxiety starts to peak, it can take anywhere from a week to several weeks. It (ultimately) depends on the severity of what is going on in that student’s life.”

The wait can actually be closer to two months, said Psychological Counseling Services Director Bert Epstein. “After an initial assessment, a student with moderate concerns can wait five weeks,” Epstein said. “For those with milder symptoms, it will take seven weeks to see a campus therapist, and nine weeks to see a campus psychiatrist.”

He said those students with severe symptoms will be seen immediately.

Junior communication studies major Amy Pierce said she was shocked to hear how long students have to wait to see a counselor for a follow-up appointment.

“That’s unbelievable,” Pierce said. “Seeing a counselor once isn’t going to fix anything. It’s a process. A lot can happen in five to seven weeks?it’s scary to think that people who really need help aren’t getting it.”

Turner said the Sac State counseling center sees approximately 450 to 500 students a semester and that its success rate for helping troubled students is good. He said the center’s services include individual psychotherapy, couple’s counseling, group psychotherapy, learning disabilities, psychological testing, biofeedback, stress management, test anxiety workshops, crisis counseling, medication management and other services as they are needed.

He said that while there is always someone available, the demand has been so high lately that the center has needed to contract outside help.

“We don’t have enough-regularly employed counselors. Sometimes we have to fill (that gap) with part-time or contract help,” Turner said. “That being said, there is always at least one counselor available who is covering drop-ins and one back-up. If there’s a crisis, we’ll find someone to respond to it.”

Epstein said the center makes a point of keeping its temporary employees for as long as possible.

“We make efforts to retain our temporary or non-tenure track staff members on a year-to-year basis,” Epstein said. “We feel that those who are here longer have a better sense of the campus and students.”

Epstein said most counseling centers experience a similar shift in the number of clients.

“Sac State is not the only campus with this problem,” Epstein said. “Counseling centers across the country have times where the student demand is higher.”

Turner said the center’s increase in clients is not a direct result of the shootings but that a number of students have come in to talk about the incident and their personal safety.

“It has been busy at our center, but not specifically as a result of the shootings,” Turner said. “Some students have come in regarding the shootings, but this time of the semester is always busy due to the stress of upcoming finals, papers and relationship stress due to time pressures.”

He said the shootings have had a large impact on college campuses around the world.

“There is a tremendous amount of online communication among college counselors,” Turner said. “It has impacted us in terms of faculty and fellow students being more aware and concerned about students who appear to have adjustment difficulties or who seem lonely, isolated or unable to connect.”

He said the key thing students should look out for is a change in behavior.

“A person may suddenly become extremely withdrawn, quit doing activities, socializing, seem extremely preoccupied or overly happy for no-reason,” Turner said. “Being able to communicate-and expressing a concern about-the changes you notice in your friend can-oftentimes provide that lifeline.”

Turner said that while feeling embarrassed is a natural reaction, students should not worry about what others will think of them because receiving counseling or psychological services is actually very healthy.

“We have our clients report back to us on their experience and our services by taking a satisfaction survey,” Epstein said. “Ninety-five percent of our clients have said that they were satisfied with the services they received from us and that they would recommend us to others.”

According to the Psychological Counseling Services website, any students who are currently enrolled at Sac State, have paid their university fees and possess a valid OneCard are eligible for short-term treatment at no cost.

Ashley Evans can be reached at [email protected]