If you\u2019ve walked into Gannett recently, you may have noticed something new, other than the usual hordes of crying students. Halloween decorations are everywhere, from orange and black ribbons to skulls and pumpkins. They are festive and seasonal, but also serve a brilliant dual purpose: to scare people away from making Counseling and Psychological Service appointments.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve tried everything to solve the mental health crisis and fix the problem of overbooking. We gave out free plants. We told people to go to EARS. Last semester, we even hired three new therapists. That\u2019s right, three. And yet the problem persisted. Scary decor was the only way we could bring some order back into the system\u201d said the director of Cornell Health on Monday.<\/p>\n
This new initiative will hopefully reduce appointments by as much as 20 percent. Only those who truly need the help will brave the spooky skeletons to go to their annual therapist visit. Additionally, anyone who calls Gannett will now be greeted with a horrible screeching sound, as well as a notification that the call is coming from inside their house. This is so shocking that they won\u2019t even realize that their appointment was booked two months away.<\/p>\n
For students who actually make it to the building, the decorations will also inspire some positivity with their uplifting messages. The \u201cKeep Calm and Scary On\u201d signs add a serene atmosphere to the waiting room, which reduces anxiety. Jack-o\u2019-lanterns are a reminder to always smile no matter what happens. Take notice, kids\u2014depression isn\u2019t real.<\/p>\n
Cornell Health\u2019s lead physician consultant, Dr. Greg Myers, wants to take this even further. \u201cThere\u2019s no reason this shouldn\u2019t be a year round thing\u201d he said. \u201cWhy are we always wearing those silly blue masks for flu season? We should be wearing a Ghostface mask instead. The more students we can keep out of here, the better.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is truly a step in the right direction for the university.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"